Description

Cohort management: Developing and maintaining participant databases in longitudinal studies

LYN ADAMSON AND ANNA GRAVES

Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

ABSTRACT

Creating databases that will support longitudinal cohort studies over extended periods of time is a challenge. The need to record and archive all current and historical activities for each participant can result in large databases. Effectively managing these databases is a key component of achieving successful outcomes for longitudinal studies. This paper describes the methods that have been employed by one longitudinal cohort study to develop functional and flexible databases that will stand the test of time. While not exhaustive these principles provide guidelines that will assist in the creation and maintenance of databases to support a longitudinal cohort study.

Keywords: longitudinal studies; participant retention; data management; cohort studies