Healthy volunteer bias (A selection bias type) in Research #research #bias #shorts
Channel: SPM & Research with Dr Rock Britto
Date: 24/08/2023

Healthy volunteer bias, also known as selection bias or volunteer bias, is a type of bias that occurs when the individuals who participate in a research study are not representative of the general population because they are healthier or have different characteristics than the average person. This bias can lead to inaccurate or misleading research findings because the study sample does not reflect the broader population. Here's more information about healthy volunteer bias:

Causes of Healthy Volunteer Bias:

Self-Selection: Individuals who volunteer for studies might be more health-conscious, physically fit, or motivated than the general population.
Exclusion Criteria: Researchers might exclude individuals with certain health conditions, which can result in a sample that is healthier than the population as a whole.
Impact of Healthy Volunteer Bias:

Generalizability: Research findings may not be applicable to the broader population, as they are skewed toward healthier individuals.
Overestimation of Benefits: If healthier participants are included, the benefits of interventions or treatments might be overestimated.
Underestimation of Risks: Risks of interventions or exposure might be underestimated if less healthy individuals are excluded.
Examples:

If a study on a new medication recruits only healthy volunteers, the medication's effectiveness and safety might be overestimated.
In lifestyle or dietary studies, volunteers might be more health-conscious than the average person, leading to biased results.
Mitigation Strategies:

Random Sampling: Use random sampling to select a diverse range of participants, including those who might not volunteer voluntarily.
Inclusion Criteria: Avoid overly restrictive inclusion criteria that might exclude a significant portion of the population.
Stratification: Analyze data while considering demographic and health-related factors to control for bias.
Reporting Healthy Volunteer Bias:

Authors should acknowledge the potential for healthy volunteer bias in their research reports.
Provide a clear description of the recruitment process and the characteristics of the study participants.
Addressing healthy volunteer bias is essential for producing reliable and applicable research results that accurately represent the broader population.
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