Challenges in effectively recruiting and retaining 342 adolescents into an observational cohort study

Authors: ST. ROMAIN, JESSICA - Pennington Biomedical Research Center; HENDRICK, H - Pennington Biomedical Research Center; REED, I - Pennington Biomedical Research Center; STAIANO, AMANDA - Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Submitted to: SAGE Research Methods
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/17/2020
Publication Date: 7/17/2020
Citation: St. Romain, J., Hendrick, H., Reed, I., Staiano, A.E. 2020. Challenges in effectively recruiting and retaining 342 adolescents into an observational cohort study. SAGE Research Methods. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781529723564.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781529723564

Interpretive Summary: Successful recruitment of the targeted number of participants needed to carry out protocols is essential to achieve a sufficient sample size to test a study hypothesis. However, despite it being a fundamental necessity, recruitment is known to be one of the most challenging and important facets of conducting research both in randomized trials that provide a health intervention and observational cohort studies. This is particularly true for ethnic minority groups and for children that are obese. The goal of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different recruitment methods and retention considerations with regard to pediatric populations, including adolescents with obesity. Identifying effective recruitment and retention methods for these groups are vital to successful recruitment for research studies. We discuss strategies and considerations used to recruit and retain adolescents, including minorities and that are overweight or obese. A variety of recruitment methods were necessary to reach the target populations and complete enrollment. Efforts must also be put into participant retention to complete as many enrolled participants as possible.

Technical Abstract: Recruiting adolescents to participate in research studies, with or without a clinical intervention, is challenging. This is especially true for ethnic minority groups and for pediatric populations at higher risk, such as those with obesity. Identifying effective recruitment and retention methods for these populations is vital to successful recruitment. This study discusses strategies and considerations used to recruit and retain 342 adolescents, including 41% ethnic minority and 50% with overweight or obesity, into a 2-year observational cohort study. Several strategies were used throughout the study's 24-month recruitment timeline. These included no cost advertisements, community outreach, paid media, earned media, and internal recruitment methods. These strategies were implemented by a team of recruiters, project managers, and research specialists. Retention efforts included regular follow-up surveys, phone calls, and emails to keep contact information up-to-date in preparation for scheduling of Year 2 assessment visits. A total of 823 parents/guardians phone screened over 26 months, and 342 adolescents aged 10 to 16 years were enrolled into the study. The institution's email listserv, consisting of former participants and attendees of the research center’s outreach events, resulted in the largest percentage of enrolled participants (~30%). Social media (~21%) and word-of-mouth (~13%) were the next leading strategies. For retention, emails to continue engagement and regular follow-up contacts have been successful as 86% of participants have returned for Year 2 visits as of July 2019. A variety of recruitment methods were necessary to reach the target population and complete enrollment. Efforts must also be put into participant retention to complete as many enrolled participants as possible.