Taylor-Piliae Ruth E, Boros Daniella, Coull Bruce M
Biobehavioral Health Science Division, College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.
J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2014 Mar;23(3):462-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2013.03.031. Epub 2013 May 2.
Relatively few exercise randomized clinical trials (RCTs) among stroke survivors have reported the effectiveness of recruitment and retention strategies, despite its central importance to study integrity.
Our objective is to examine recruitment and retention strategies used among a group of older community-dwelling stroke survivors for an exercise RCT.
Recruitment strategies were multidimensional using both paid (ie, newspaper, radio and, television) and unpaid advertisements (ie, staff visits, flyers, and brochures placed at outpatient rehabilitation centers, physician offices, and community facilities working with older adults; free media coverage of the study, presentations at stroke support groups, relatives/friends, and study Web site) to obtain referrals. Retention strategies centered on excellent communication, the study participants' needs, and having dedicated study staff. Attrition rates and adherence to the intervention were used to examine the effectiveness of these retention strategies.
A total of 393 referrals were received, 233 persons were screened, and 145 stroke survivors enrolled in the study. During 3 years of study recruitment, we achieved 97% of our enrollment target. We enrolled 62% of those screened. Study enrollment from paid advertising was 21.4% (n = 31), whereas unpaid advertisements resulted in 78.6% (n = 114) of our participants. Attrition was 10% (n = 14 dropouts), and adherence to the intervention was 85%.
Recruitment and retention of participants in an exercise RCT are time and labor intensive. Multiple recruitment and retention strategies are required to ensure an adequate sample of community-dwelling stroke survivors. Many of these strategies are also relevant for exercise RCTs among adults with other chronic illnesses.
尽管招募和保留策略对研究完整性至关重要，但在中风幸存者中进行的相对较少的运动随机临床试验（RCT）报告了这些策略的有效性。
我们的目的是研究一组居住在社区的老年中风幸存者在一项运动RCT中所采用的招募和保留策略。
招募策略是多维度的，使用付费广告（即报纸、广播和电视）和无偿广告（即工作人员走访、传单以及放置在门诊康复中心、医生办公室和与老年人合作的社区设施中的宣传册；研究的免费媒体报道、在中风支持小组的演讲、亲戚/朋友以及研究网站）来获取推荐人选。保留策略以良好的沟通、研究参与者的需求以及拥有专业的研究人员为核心。使用失访率和干预依从性来检验这些保留策略的有效性。
共收到393个推荐人选，筛选了233人，145名中风幸存者纳入研究。在3年的研究招募期间，我们完成了97%的招募目标。我们纳入了62%的筛选对象。付费广告的研究招募率为21.4%（n = 31），而无偿广告带来了78.6%（n = 114）的参与者。失访率为10%（n = 14名退出者），干预依从性为85%。
在运动RCT中招募和保留参与者既耗时又费力。需要多种招募和保留策略来确保有足够数量的社区居住中风幸存者样本。其中许多策略也适用于其他慢性病成年人的运动RCT。
