McSweeney Jean C, Pettey Christina M, Fischer Ellen P, Spellman Alisa
College of Nursing, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.
Res Gerontol Nurs. 2009 Oct;2(4):256-64. doi: 10.3928/19404921-20090803-01. Epub 2009 Oct 27.
High recruitment and retention rates are hallmarks of scientifically rigorous longitudinal research. However, recruitment and retention are challenging, especially with older adults and minorities. In this article, we discuss strategies that have enabled us to retain more than 80% of both Black and White women in a 5-year observational study. To overcome challenges such as staff turnover and introduction of computerized record systems, we developed a time-saving handout, streamlined procedures for documenting contact information, and motivated site staff through weekly personal contact. We responded to problems with mailed privacy consent forms by garnering approval for verbal consent that allowed immediate response to participants' questions. In addition to standard steps to minimize attrition, we encouraged ongoing participation with personal letters following interviews, "refrigerator reminders" of the next interview date, and "missing you" letters following missed appointments. We believe these and other strategies described in this article were responsible for our high retention rate.
高招募率和高留存率是科学严谨的纵向研究的标志。然而，招募和留存具有挑战性，尤其是对于老年人和少数族裔而言。在本文中，我们讨论了一些策略，这些策略使我们能够在一项为期5年的观察性研究中，让80%以上的黑人和白人女性都持续参与研究。为了克服诸如人员流动和引入计算机化记录系统等挑战，我们制作了一份节省时间的资料手册，简化了记录联系信息的程序，并通过每周的个人联系激励现场工作人员。我们通过争取口头同意的批准来应对邮寄隐私同意书出现的问题，这使得能够立即回答参与者的问题。除了采取标准步骤尽量减少损耗外，我们还通过访谈后的亲笔信鼓励持续参与，提醒下次访谈日期的“冰箱贴提醒”，以及错过预约后的“想念您”信件。我们认为本文中描述的这些以及其他策略促成了我们的高留存率。
