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Leung CY, Chien SY, Weiss SJ. Engaging adolescents in research: Home self-collection of biological samples and health questionnaires. Res Nurs Health 2024. [PMID: 38953164 DOI: 10.1002/nur.22412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Adolescent health research with biomarker data collection is limited due to difficulties in recruiting and engaging this age group. Thus, successful recruitment, engagement, and retention of adolescents in translational research are necessary to elucidate factors influencing mental and physical health conditions, uncover novel biomarkers, and expand prevention and treatment options. This paper describes strategies for effective recruitment and retention of adolescents in a research study, using a project examining depressive symptoms and the microbiome to illustrate these approaches. This cross-sectional study collected electronic self-reported survey data and self-collected biospecimens (stool and salivary samples) from adolescents 13-19 years old. All but two participants completed the questionnaires, with few missing responses. 94% provided at least one salivary sample and 89% supplied a stool sample. Participants were able to adhere to the study instructions. Using a participant-centered approach, our study successfully recruited and engaged the targeted 90 participants in self-collection of electronic survey data and biospecimens. Successful strategies of recruitment and retention included: 1) on-site clinic recruitment by research team, 2) active involvement of parents as appropriate, 3) use of electronic surveys and self-collection of biospecimens to foster control and ease of participation while addressing privacy concerns, 4) noninvasive collection of data on biospecimen, 5) frequent texting to communicate with participants, 6) flexibility in the pickup and transferring of biospecimens to accommodate adolescent schedules, 7) developmentally appropriate research, 8) participant reimbursement, and 9) sensitivity toward discussing stool sample materials. As a result of these strategies, adolescent participation in the research proved feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherry Y Leung
- Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Shao-Yun Chien
- School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sandra J Weiss
- Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Cummins L, Dawson K, Bayes S, Wilson V, Meedya S. Using the principles of practice development to address challenges in recruitment and data collection when face-to-face methods are unavailable. Nurse Res 2024; 32:22-30. [PMID: 38419422 DOI: 10.7748/nr.2024.e1898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Researchers conducting studies involving pregnant women often find recruitment challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic added further complexity to studies requiring face-to-face participation. AIM To demonstrate how to maintain the principles of practice development (PD) when a study must switch from face-to-face to remote methods of collecting data. DISCUSSION The number of participants in the authors' study increased when they moved from face-to-face to telephone engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. They continued using PD principles when they changed method and the quality of the data they collected remained constant, even once lockdown restrictions were in place. CONCLUSION PD principles can offer ways for nurse researchers to engage, collaborate with and reflect with people for research projects, including when constraints compete with participation. They can also assist researchers in optimising and maintaining recruitment and data collection when face-to-face research methods are impossible. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE The telephone can be a valuable alternative medium for recruiting participants and collecting data when face-to-face methods are impossible to use. PD principles can be maintained and response rates and participation may even be greater when using it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Cummins
- Australian Catholic University, Blacktown, NSW Australia
| | - Kate Dawson
- Faculty of Health Science/School of Nursing, Midwifery, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria
| | - Sara Bayes
- Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria
| | - Valerie Wilson
- person-centred healthcare, Ingham Institute, Liverpool, NSW Australia
| | - Shahla Meedya
- Australian Catholic University, Blacktown, NSW Australia
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Duszynski TJ, Fadel W, Dixon B, Yiannoutsos CT, Halverson P, Menachemi N. Characterizing participants who respond to text, email, phone calls, or postcards in a SARS-CoV-2 prevalence study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1113. [PMID: 38649843 PMCID: PMC11036578 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18550-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Multiple modalities and frequencies of contact are needed to maximize recruitment in many public health surveys. The purpose of this analysis is to characterize respondents to a statewide SARS-CoV-2 testing study whose participation followed either postcard, phone outreach or electronic means of invitation. In addition, we examine how participant characteristics differ based upon the number of contacts needed to elicit participation. METHODS This is a cross-sectional analysis of survey data collected from participants who were randomly selected to represent Indiana residents and were invited to be tested for Covid-19 in April 2020. Participants received invitations via postcard, text/emails, and/or robocalls/texts based upon available contact information. The modality, and frequency of contacts, that prompted participation was determined by when the notification was sent and when the participant responded and subsequently registered to participate in the study. Chi square analyses were used to determine differences between groups and significant findings were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS Respondents included 3,658 individuals and were stratified by postcards (7.9%), text/emails (26.5%), and robocalls/text (65.7%) with 19.7% registering after 1 contact, 47.9% after 2 contacts, and 32.4% after 3 contacts encouraging participation. Females made up 54.6% of the sample and responded at a higher rate for postcards (8.2% vs. 7.5%) and text/emails (28.1 vs. 24.6%) as compared to males (χ2 = 7.43, p = 0.025). Compared to males, females responded at a higher percentage after 1 contact (21.4 vs. 17.9%, χ2 = 7.6, p = 0.023). Those over 60 years responded most often after 2 contacts (χ2 = 27.5, p < 0.001) when compared to others at younger age groups. In regression analysis, participant sex (p = 0.036) age (p = 0.005), educational attainment (p = < 0.0001), and being motivated by "free testing" (p = 0.036) were correlated with participation in the prevalence study. DISCUSSION Researchers should be aware that the modality of contact as well as the number of prompts used could influence differential participation in public health studies. Our findings can inform researchers developing studies that rely on selective participation by study subjects. We explore how to increase participation within targeted demographic groups using specific modalities and examining frequency of contact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Duszynski
- Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| | - William Fadel
- Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Brian Dixon
- Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Paul Halverson
- Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Nir Menachemi
- Indiana University Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Barney A, Rodriguez F, Schwarz EB, Reed R, Tancredi D, Brindis CD, Dehlendorf C, Tebb KP. Adapting to Changes in Teen Pregnancy Prevention Research: Social Media as an Expedited Recruitment Strategy. J Adolesc Health 2021; 69:349-353. [PMID: 33632643 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2020.12.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Teen pregnancy prevention projects funded by the U.S. Office of Adolescent Health were disrupted by the Trump administration in the July 2017 announcement that funding would be terminated. Although funding was later reinstated toward the end of 2018 after a class-action lawsuit, we needed to change our recruitment protocol to mitigate this disruption to the study timeline and staffing. This led to a natural experiment comparing in person and social media recruitment strategies. METHODS The original approach was to recruit girls, aged 15-19 years, who were using intrauterine or subdermal contraception, in person in clinic settings. After the funding disruption, we transitioned to an online recruitment strategy. Costs associated with each approach (in-person and online recruitment) were tracked, and we compared cost of per-person enrollment with each approach. RESULTS In-person, clinic-based recruitment enrolled 118 participants over 293 days from eight high-volume clinics. Online recruitment enrolled 518 participants over 146 days. Online recruitment resulted in cost savings and a diverse sample representing a larger geographic region. CONCLUSION Online recruitment can cut costs and be more efficient than a clinic-based recruitment strategy, but special considerations are warranted when considering social media recruitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Barney
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
| | - Felicia Rodriguez
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Eleanor Bimla Schwarz
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California
| | - Reiley Reed
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Daniel Tancredi
- Department of General Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Davis, California
| | - Claire D Brindis
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Christine Dehlendorf
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Kathleen P Tebb
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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Langer SL, Castro FG, Chen ACC, Davis KC, Joseph RP, Kim WS, Larkey L, Lee RE, Petrov ME, Reifsnider E, Youngstedt SD, Shaibi GQ. Recruitment and retention of underrepresented and vulnerable populations to research. Public Health Nurs 2021; 38:1102-1115. [PMID: 34240459 DOI: 10.1111/phn.12943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Per principles outlined in the Belmont Report, research involving human subjects should minimize risks to participants and maximize benefits to participants and society. Recruitment of participants should be equitable. Once enrolled, participants have the right to withdraw at any point. Researchers must balance these principles with pressures to meet enrollment goals and, in the context of repeated-measures designs, retain participants across time. The purpose of this perspective is to describe the approach and corresponding activities for recruiting and retaining underrepresented and vulnerable populations that are the focus of a transdisciplinary academic research center. To this effort, we offer diverse disciplinary backgrounds, experience working with a wide range of populations (from infants to older adults and across multiple health conditions), and spanning a variety of research designs. Effective strategies offered include partnering with community entities, approaching potential participants where they are and at a time of readiness, using population-appropriate modes of communication and data collection, conducting study activities in familiar settings and at convenient times, maintaining frequent contact, and offering meaningful incentives. These strategies are consistent with population-specific reports found in the extant literature and underscore their cross-cutting nature, with adaptations based on participant and community partner needs and preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby L Langer
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Felipe González Castro
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Angela Chia-Chen Chen
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Kelly Cue Davis
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Rodney P Joseph
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Wonsun Sunny Kim
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Linda Larkey
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Rebecca E Lee
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Megan E Petrov
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Elizabeth Reifsnider
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Shawn D Youngstedt
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Gabriel Q Shaibi
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Gamble A, Beech BM, Blackshear C, Cranston KL, Herring SJ, Moore JB, Welsch MA. Recruitment planning for clinical trials with a vulnerable perinatal adolescent population using the Clinical Trials Transformative Initiative framework and principles of partner and community engagement. Contemp Clin Trials 2021; 104:106363. [PMID: 33737198 PMCID: PMC8180492 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2021.106363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recruitment planning is needed to establish a foundation for obesity prevention research with high risk, disadvantaged perinatal adolescent populations. In the context of developing clinical trial protocols, investigators partnered with Mississippi's Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and adopted the Clinical Trials Transformative Initiative (CTTI) framework for recruitment planning to identify and mitigate challenges to recruitment early in the clinical trial development process. The recruitment protocol consisted of 20 passive strategies grounded in principles of partner and community engagement and was flexible, accommodating, altruistic, community-focused, and minimally burdensome to partners and participants. The recruitment goal included 150 adolescent-coparticipant dyads and 145 dyads (96.7%) were successfully recruited. Investigators demonstrated the feasibility of recruiting a disadvantaged and vulnerable perinatal adolescent population that is underrepresented in health research, in one of the most persistently impoverished and poor health regions in the U.S. Four important aspects of recruitment planning using the CTTI framework are discussed including: (1) establishing partnerships with trusted community resources is a paramount investment; (2) dedicating time and resources to know and go to your community is invaluable; (3) fostering trust by offering convenient, continuous and clear communication; and (4) encouraging collaboration and participation through limiting partner and participant burden. Establishing organizational and community partnership requires a substantial amount of invaluable time and fosters recruitment success. Following the CTTI recommendations for recruitment planning led to a robust recruitment protocol that will be used in future intervention trials with an understudied perinatal adolescent population with high risk for poor maternal and fetal health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Gamble
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, United States of America.
| | - Bettina M Beech
- Strategic Initiatives and Population Health Research, Office of the Provost, College of Medicine, University of Houston, 4302 University Drive, Houston, TX 77204, United States of America.
| | - Chad Blackshear
- Department of Data Science, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, United States of America.
| | - Katherine L Cranston
- Medical Student Research Program, School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, United States of America.
| | - Sharon J Herring
- Program for Maternal Health Equity, Center for Urban Bioethics, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, 3223 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, United States of America.
| | - Justin B Moore
- Department of Implementation Science, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 425 Vine Street, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101, United States of America.
| | - Michael A Welsch
- Department of Population Health Science, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, United States of America.
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Meagher BT, Campos MR, Thornton P, Klima C, Peters TA, Hallberg J, Ulfhager E, O'Brien WD, McFarlin BL. Reasons Why Pregnant Women Participate in Ultrasound Research Involving Transvaginal Scans. JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE 2020; 39:1581-1587. [PMID: 32073680 PMCID: PMC8059443 DOI: 10.1002/jum.15248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to explore the motivations of pregnant women in participating in an ultrasound study and the acceptability of vaginal ultrasound examinations. METHODS A prospective sample of 270 women were asked one question: "Can you tell me what motivated you to participate in the study?" The data were then analyzed through a qualitative thematic analysis with an inductive approach. In addition to the thematic analysis, quantification of the data was performed to enhance the qualitative result. RESULTS Through the thematic analysis, 5 themes emerged from the responses of the participants: altruism, research, personal experience, personal benefit, and finding out. All responses were relatively short, and some responses included more than one theme. CONCLUSIONS Vaginal ultrasound examinations were acceptable to the participants, and pregnant women had many motivations to participate. Regardless of race, ethnicity, or insurance status, the women in our study were altruistic and curious about our research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara T Meagher
- Department of Women, Children, and Family Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Marissa R Campos
- Department of Women, Children, and Family Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Patrick Thornton
- Department of Women, Children, and Family Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Carrie Klima
- Department of Women, Children, and Family Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Tara A Peters
- Department of Women, Children, and Family Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Josefin Hallberg
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Reproductive Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emma Ulfhager
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Reproductive Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - William D O'Brien
- Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Barbara L McFarlin
- Department of Women, Children, and Family Health Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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