The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study: Assessing factors associated with owner compliance after the first year of enrollment

Abstract

Background: The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study (GRLS) is one of the largest canine cohort studies undertaken in the United States to date. This study design allows for evaluation of multiple exposures and outcomes throughout the lifetime of each dog, but relies on participants to comply with study requirements over a long period of time. Failure to do so can lead to biased reporting of results.

Objectives: To examine factors associated with dog owner compliance for GRLS.

Animals: Golden Retrievers (n = 3044) whose owners elected to participate in GRLS.

Methods: Prospective, cohort study. A logistic regression model was constructed to examine associations between data collected at the time of initial enrollment in GRLS and the outcome of failure to fulfill all study obligations at the end of the first year after enrollment in GRLS.

Results: There were 192 (6.3%) owners who did not comply with study requirements 1 year after enrollment. Owners of dogs without a record of vaccination had nearly 4 times higher odds (adjusted OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.5, 9.2) of being noncompliant than owners of vaccinated dogs and owners of dogs that slept in the garage had nearly 6 times higher odds (adjusted OR: 5.7, 95% CI: 1.9, 17.0) of being noncompliant than owners of dogs that slept in their bedroom.

Conclusions and clinical importance: Survey questions about a dog's sleeping location at night and vaccination status are important indicators of an owner's odds of compliance in a prospective study. Use of similar questions during enrollment in cohort studies might help to predict owner compliance that can aid in subject selection.

Keywords: cohort; longitudinal; participant selection; study compliance.