Modeling response rates in surveys of female XXXX .

@entity1 @entity158 @entity250
INTRODUCTION: Studies that address sensitive topics, such as female @entity250 , often achieve poor response rates that can bias results. Factors that affect response rates to studies in this area are not well characterized. AIM: To model the response rate in studies investigating the prevalence of female @entity250 . Methods. Databases were searched for English-language, prevalence studies using the search terms: @entity250 , @entity1 / @entity1 /female, prevalence, and cross-sectional. Studies that did not report response rates or were clinic-based were excluded. A multiple linear regression model was constructed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Published response rates. RESULTS: A total of 1,380 publications were identified, and 54 of these met our inclusion criteria. Our model explained 58% of the variance in response rates of studies investigating the prevalence of difficulty with desire, arousal, orgasm, or @entity158 (R(2) = 0.581, P = 0.027). This model was based on study design variables, study year, location, and the reported prevalence of each type of sexual difficulty. More recent studies (beta = -1.05, P = 0.037) and studies that only included @entity1 over 50 years of age (beta = -31.11, P = 0.007) had lower response rates. The use of face-to-face interviews was associated with a higher response rate (beta = 20.51, P = 0.036). Studies that did not include questions regarding desire difficulties achieved higher response rates than those that did include questions on desire difficulty (beta = 23.70, P = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Response rates in prevalence studies addressing female @entity250 are frequently low and have decreased by an average of just over 1% per anum since the late 60s. Participation may improve by conducting interviews in @entity1 . Studies that investigate a broad range of ages may be less representative of older @entity1 , due to a poorer response in older age groups. Lower response rates in studies that investigate desire difficulty suggest that sexual desire is a particularly sensitive topic.
