Nonparticipation of Older Adults in a Heart Disease Self-Management Project: Factors Influencing Involvement

Nonparticipation is an important issue in gerontological research. However, literature describing factors influencing participation of older adults in disease management programs is limited. This article contributes to the understanding of nonparticipation in older adults by reviewing the relevant literature and delineating a strategy for assessing the impact of nonparticipation on the generalizability of findings. Involvement in a study of an educational intervention for teaching self-management skills was investigated. Four hundred elderly cardiac patients were divided into three groups: participants in the self-management program evaluation; nonparticipants who declined involvement in the study, but agreed to provide a limited amount of information via telephone interview; and those who refused involvement of any kind. Participants were most likely to be male, with more formal education, who were more worried about their heart conditions, and less likely to perceive that help was available to them. Nonparticipants mentioned “time constraints,” “transportation,” and “physical limitations” as primary barriers to involvement.