Carolyn W. Zhu, PhD, Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and JJP VA Medical Center, 130 West Kingsbridge Road, Bronx NY 10468, USA. Email:
J Prev Alzheimers Dis. 2021;8(3):292-298. doi: 10.14283/jpad.2021.18.
This report describes the efficacy and utility of recruiting older individuals by mail to participate in research on cognitive health and aging using Electronic Health Records (EHR).
Individuals age 65 or older identified by EHR in the Mount Sinai Health System as likely to have Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) were sent a general recruitment letter (N=12,951). A comparison group of individuals with comparable age and matched for gender also received the letter (N=3,001).
Of the 15,952 individuals who received the mailing, 953 (6.0%) responded. 215 (1.3%) declined further contact. Overall rate of expression of interest was 4.6%. Of the 738 individuals who responded positively to further contact, 321 indicated preference for further contact by telephone. Follow-up of these individuals yielded 30 enrollments (0.2% of 15,952). No differences in response rate were noted between MCI and comparison groups, but the comparison group yielded higher enrollment. 6 individuals who were not the intended recipients of mailing but nevertheless contacted our study were also enrolled.
Mailings to individuals identified through a trusted source, such as a medical center from which they have received clinical care, may be a viable means of reaching individuals within this age group as this effort yielded a low rejection rate. However, EHR information did not enhance study enrollment. Implications for improving recruitment are discussed.
本报告描述了通过邮件招募老年人参与认知健康和老龄化研究的效果和实用性，该研究使用了电子健康记录（EHR）。
通过 Mount Sinai 健康系统的 EHR 确定年龄在 65 岁或以上、可能患有轻度认知障碍（MCI）的个体，向他们发送了一封一般性招募信（N=12951）。年龄和性别与之匹配的对照组也收到了这封信（N=3001）。
在收到邮件的 15952 人中，有 953 人（6.0%）做出了回应。215 人（1.3%）拒绝进一步联系。表示有兴趣的总体比例为 4.6%。在 738 名积极回应进一步联系的人中，有 321 人表示更愿意通过电话进一步联系。对这些人进行随访后，有 30 人（0.2%的 15952）入组。MCI 组和对照组之间的回应率没有差异，但对照组的入组率更高。有 6 名并非邮件目标收件人但仍与我们的研究联系的人也被纳入了研究。
通过受信任的来源（例如他们接受过临床护理的医疗中心）向个人发送邮件可能是接触该年龄段人群的一种可行方式，因为这种方法的拒绝率很低。然而，EHR 信息并没有提高研究的参与度。讨论了改进招募的影响。
