Patterns of unit and item nonresponse in the CAHPS® Hospital survey

Abstract

Objective. To examine the predictors of unit and item nonresponse, the magnitude of nonresponse bias, and the need for nonresponse weights in the Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Hospital Survey. Methods. A common set of 11 administrative variables (41 degrees of freedom) was used to predict unit nonresponse and the rate of item nonresponse in multivariate models. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the impact of nonresponse on CAHPS Hospital Survey ratings and reports. Results. Unit nonresponse was highest for younger patients and patients other than non-Hispanic whites (p< .001); item nonresponse increased steadily with age (p< .001). Fourteen of 20 reports of ratings of care had significant (p