Polio - The Late Effects Reality

Sampling Technique

During 2002, a letter was sent to all 390 members of the Post Polio Support Group who had suffered an incidence of paralytic Polio and who lived in the Republic of Ireland, asking if they would be willing to take part in a survey regarding LEP - some 230 replied. The final take up was 225 (57.7%). Therefore, the sample that entered the survey cannot be said to be truly scientific as it was self-selecting. However, the Post Polio Support Group membership is approximately 1/3 male and 2/3 female and this split is reflected in the respondents.

It is also acknowledged that this grouping has a particular bias in terms of loss of ability, i.e. most are currently suffering symptoms of LEP and have contacted Post Polio Support Group for support. Therefore, the sample probably contains a higher ratio with those with LEP than would be the international experience.