Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Science, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Institute of General Practice, Berlin, Germany.
BMC Med Res Methodol. 2021 Mar 30;21(1):61. doi: 10.1186/s12874-021-01253-6.
Recruitment of general practitioners (GPs) and their patients is reported as one of the most challenging steps when undertaking primary care research. The present paper describes the recruitment process of a cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) aiming to improve dementia care in the primary care setting.
Recruitment data was analysed descriptively using frequency tables to investigate comparisons of recruitment rates and results of different recruitment strategies as well as reasons for participation and non-participation of GPs, patients with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers.
Over a period of 23 months, N = 28 GPs were successfully included in the cRCT. This represents an overall recruitment rate of 4.6%. The most efficient strategy in terms of high response and low labour-intensity involved the dissemination of calls for participation in a GP research network. Most frequently reported reasons for GP's participation were Improvement of patient's well-being (n = 22, 79%) followed by Interest in dementia research (n = 18, 64%). The most common reasons for non-participation were Lack of time (n = 71, 34%) followed by Not interested in participation (n = 63, 30%). On a patient level, N = 102 PwD were successfully recruited. On average, each GP referred about n = 7 PwD (range: 1-17; mdn = 6; IQR = 3.5) and successfully recruited about n = 4 PwD (range: 1-11; mdn = 3; IQR = 3.5).
First, our findings propose GP research networks as a promising strategy to promote recruitment and participation of GPs and their patients in research. Second, present findings highlight the importance of including GPs and their interests in specific research topics in early stages of research in order to ensure a successful recruitment. Finally, results do not support cold calls as a successful strategy in the recruitment of GPs.
The trial was prospectively registered with the ISRCTN registry (Trial registration number: ISRCTN15854413 ). Registered 01 April 2019.
招募全科医生（GP）及其患者被报道为开展初级保健研究最具挑战性的步骤之一。本文描述了一项旨在改善初级保健环境中痴呆症护理的整群随机对照试验（cRCT）的招募过程。
使用频率表对招募数据进行描述性分析，以调查不同招募策略的招募率和结果比较，以及 GP、痴呆症患者（PwD）及其照顾者参与和不参与的原因。
在 23 个月的时间里，成功纳入了 28 名全科医生参加 cRCT。这代表总体招募率为 4.6%。在高响应和低劳动强度方面最有效的策略是在 GP 研究网络中传播参与呼吁。GP 参与的最常见原因是改善患者的幸福感（n=22，79%），其次是对痴呆症研究感兴趣（n=18，64%）。不参与的最常见原因是缺乏时间（n=71，34%），其次是不感兴趣（n=63，30%）。在患者层面，成功招募了 102 名 PwD。平均每位 GP 转介了 n=7 名 PwD（范围：1-17；中位数=6；四分位距[IQR]=3.5），并成功招募了 n=4 名 PwD（范围：1-11；中位数=3；IQR=3.5）。
首先，我们的研究结果提出，GP 研究网络是促进 GP 及其患者参与研究的有前途的策略。其次，本研究结果强调了在研究早期纳入 GP 及其对特定研究课题的兴趣的重要性，以确保成功招募。最后，结果不支持冷电话作为招募 GP 的成功策略。
该试验在 ISRCTN 注册中心（试验注册号：ISRCTN854413）进行了前瞻性注册。注册于 2019 年 4 月 1 日。
