Background: EPIC-Italy cohort study recruited subjects who voluntarily accepted to participate in the project. From the self-selected bases of the population sample, some bias could derive in the data interpretation when risk estimation for cancer disease related to life-style factors is the principal concern. Knowledge of the bias related to self-selected sampling is important for better directing the interpretation of the EPIC-Italy study results. Methods: We investigated the characteristics of volunteer subjects recruited in the EPIC-Italy cohorts and compared them with those of the randomly selected subjects recruited in the Multipurpose ISTAT Surveys realized in the same period (1993-1998) In which the Epic-cohorts were recruited. Results: We found some differences, and in particular a different attitude towards cigarettes smoking and wine consumption, between the EPIC cohort and the Multipurpose ISTAT Surveys, as well as among geographical areas within the EPIC cohort. Conclusions: The uneven distribution of some characteristics suggests that the self-selected subjects were characterized by an overall lower consumption of wine and cigarette smoking even when the educational level was considered. This could suggest a generally more healthy life-style among subjects recruited on a volountary bases.
EPIC-Italy cohorts and multipurpose national surveys : a comparison of some socio-demographic and life-style characteristics / S. Calza, C. Specchia, G. Frasca, R. Tumino, C. Sacerdote, L. Fiorini, R. Galasso, A.V. Ciardullo, D. Palli, S. Salvini, V. Krogh, S. Sieri, A. Decarli. - In: TUMORI. - ISSN 0300-8916. - 89:6(2003), pp. 615-623.
EPIC-Italy cohorts and multipurpose national surveys : a comparison of some socio-demographic and life-style characteristics
A. DecarliUltimo
2003
Abstract
Background: EPIC-Italy cohort study recruited subjects who voluntarily accepted to participate in the project. From the self-selected bases of the population sample, some bias could derive in the data interpretation when risk estimation for cancer disease related to life-style factors is the principal concern. Knowledge of the bias related to self-selected sampling is important for better directing the interpretation of the EPIC-Italy study results. Methods: We investigated the characteristics of volunteer subjects recruited in the EPIC-Italy cohorts and compared them with those of the randomly selected subjects recruited in the Multipurpose ISTAT Surveys realized in the same period (1993-1998) In which the Epic-cohorts were recruited. Results: We found some differences, and in particular a different attitude towards cigarettes smoking and wine consumption, between the EPIC cohort and the Multipurpose ISTAT Surveys, as well as among geographical areas within the EPIC cohort. Conclusions: The uneven distribution of some characteristics suggests that the self-selected subjects were characterized by an overall lower consumption of wine and cigarette smoking even when the educational level was considered. This could suggest a generally more healthy life-style among subjects recruited on a volountary bases.Pubblicazioni consigliate
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