The role of participation in the women's health trial: Feasibility study in minority populations

Background. This paper examines participation rates and the association bet ween participation and study outcomes (% energy from fat) among participant s in the Women's Health Trial: Feasibility Study in Minority Populations, a randomized clinical trial to determine if ethnically and socioeconomically diverse women could be recruited and make significant dietary changes. Methods. Women (n = 2,208) were recruited from three clinical centers and r andomized to either an intervention group or a control group. Multiple meas ures were collected at 6 months. Results, Participation rates for follow-up data collection activities were high (average participation 79%). Hispanics and lower educational groups pa rticipated significantly less (59% for Hispanics vs 86% for blacks and whit es; 78% for lowest educational group vs 84% for highest educational group). Intervention participation significantly predicted change in percentage en ergy from fat (P < 0.001), accounting for an additional 8% of variance afte r background variables were controlled for. Conclusions, These data suggest that intervention participation is positive ly related to dietary change, but they cannot rule out the possibility that other factors may influence both of these factors. (C) 2000 American Healt h Foundation and Academic Press.