Getting to “Yes”: Steps in Participant Recruitment and Enrollment
Chapter 13
Participant Recruitment
Recruitment
Our end goal in participant recruitment and study enrollment is to get to “yes”
However, participant recruitment involves establishing trust and increasing motivation
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Getting to “Yes”: Steps in Participant Recruitment and Enrollment
1. Specify . . .
The desired sample and the inclusion & exclusion criteria
2. Develop . . .
A recruitment plan focused on potential sources of participants and their characteristics/preferences
3. Contact . . .
Potential sources to obtain their support and assistance
4. Disseminate . . .
Information about the study to potential participants
5. Ask . . .
Potentially eligible people to become participants
6. Consent . . .
Explain the study, obtain consent
7. Screen . . .
Consented individuals to confirm eligibility using inclusion and exclusion criteria
8. Enroll . . .
Involve consented participants in designated role within the study
9. Retain . . .
Enrolled participants through incentives, maintaining contact
10. Report . . .
The findings of the study to completed participants and those who helped with recruitment
(Inspired by information from Berger, Begun, & Otto-Salaj, 2009; Taylor-Piliae & Froelicher, 2007; Fisher & Ury, 1981)
Specify the People Needed
Be as specific as possible about who would be eligible (inclusion criteria) and who would not be (exclusion criteria)
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Develop a Recruitment Plan
The plan should include the inclusion and exclusion criteria and address the following:
How you will access the population
Potential barriers
How you will establish trust
How and what will persuade participation
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Contact Potential Participants
Sources of possible participants often serve as gatekeepers, protect the privacy of potential participants but also allow and facilitate access under appropriate circumstances
These initial contacts may be community or organizational leaders who encourage people to participate
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Disseminate Information
Mass media to raise awareness
Internet contacts
Social media networks
Gathering places of potential participants
Study brochures
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Invite Potential Participants
This can be done in person, by telephone, internet, or by mail
In general, the more personal and persuasive the approach, the higher the response rate will be
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Obtain Consent
Consent is obtained after the study’s purposes, procedures, risks, and benefits are explained
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Screen for Eligibility
The inclusion and exclusion criteria are used to determine if an individual is eligible or not
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Enroll Participants
This may entail:
Random assignment to a treatment group
Scheduling for regular testing
Arrangements for blood tests or scans
All of these activities are spelled out in the study protocol
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Retain Participants
Ensure that participants remain a part of the study for all testing sessions, treatments, or both
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Report Findings to Participants
By reporting your findings to the participants you help show your appreciation and the participants will be more likely to help you or other researchers in the future
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Motivators
Altruism
Curiosity
Social reasons
Information and diagnosis
Monetary incentive
Experimental treatment
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Barriers
Irrelevance
Inconvenience
Cost
Fear
Feeling too sick or too stressed
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Indirect Approach to Motivation
Rewards that may help to motivate participants are:
Excitement about being involved in an important study
Mention in press releases about the study
Opportunities to share authorship
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Indirect Approach to Motivation
Rewards that may help to motivate participants are:
Potential for improvements in practice based on lessons learned from the study
Employer recognition of staff involvement
Meeting one of the requirements for Magnet or other designation of excellence
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Barriers to Retention
Painful and/or embarrassing procedures
Offensive, insensitive questions
Time demand
Transportation problems
Health problems
Fatigue
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Motivators to Increase Retention
A well-designed plan for tracking participants
Provide personalized feedback
Conduct the study in an accessible and comfortable location
Provide personal attention and encouragement
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Motivators to Increase Retention
Offer incentives
Respect the participant’s cultural values, beliefs, and norms
Maintain communication with participants
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