TY - JOUR
T1 - Challenges of recruitment and retention in multisite clinical research
AU - Cooley, Mary E.
AU - Sarna, Linda
AU - Brown, Jean K.
AU - Williams, Roma D.
AU - Chernecky, Cynthia C
AU - Padilla, Geraldine
AU - Danao, Leda Layo
PY - 2003/10
Y1 - 2003/10
N2 - This article reviews recruitment and retention issues in a multisite, multistate (California, New York, Connecticut, Georgia, Alabama) 6-month prospective cross-sectional study focused on quality of life among 230 women with lung cancer. Recruitment of women into clinical trials and their retention are important, yet understudied. To date, few articles have described the challenges associated with recruiting women with lung cancer to participate in clinical research. Data from this trial were used to investigate the most effective strategies for recruitment across sites, to identify the most common reasons for refusal and attrition, and to identify challenges and potential solutions to recruitment and retention issues associated with multisite clinical research studies. Strategies for recruitment included letters from physicians, posters, announcements in community support groups, and newspaper and radio advertisements. Three sites allowed the researchers to contact potential participants directly, whereas 2 sites required the potential participants to contact the researchers for further information. Enrollment included 63% of the women eligible for the study (n = 230). The most common reasons for refusal were health limitations (n = 60), lack of interest (n = 46), and inconvenience (n = 16). The most common reasons for attrition (24% of the sample) were death (n = 21) and severity of illness (n = 13). Challenges related to recruitment and retention varied by geographic location.
AB - This article reviews recruitment and retention issues in a multisite, multistate (California, New York, Connecticut, Georgia, Alabama) 6-month prospective cross-sectional study focused on quality of life among 230 women with lung cancer. Recruitment of women into clinical trials and their retention are important, yet understudied. To date, few articles have described the challenges associated with recruiting women with lung cancer to participate in clinical research. Data from this trial were used to investigate the most effective strategies for recruitment across sites, to identify the most common reasons for refusal and attrition, and to identify challenges and potential solutions to recruitment and retention issues associated with multisite clinical research studies. Strategies for recruitment included letters from physicians, posters, announcements in community support groups, and newspaper and radio advertisements. Three sites allowed the researchers to contact potential participants directly, whereas 2 sites required the potential participants to contact the researchers for further information. Enrollment included 63% of the women eligible for the study (n = 230). The most common reasons for refusal were health limitations (n = 60), lack of interest (n = 46), and inconvenience (n = 16). The most common reasons for attrition (24% of the sample) were death (n = 21) and severity of illness (n = 13). Challenges related to recruitment and retention varied by geographic location.
KW - Lung cancer and quality of life
KW - Multisite research
KW - Quality of life
KW - Recruitment and retention
KW - Women and clinical trials
KW - Women and lung cancer
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0141643328&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0141643328&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/00002820-200310000-00006
DO - 10.1097/00002820-200310000-00006
M3 - Review article
C2 - 14710799
AN - SCOPUS:0141643328
SN - 0162-220X
VL - 26
SP - 376
EP - 386
JO - Cancer Nursing
JF - Cancer Nursing
IS - 5
ER -