Effect of a research nurse on patient enrollment in a clinical study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of adding a shared research nurse on patient enrollment in an ongoing clinical study.


METHODS
Before/after comparison of recruitment rates and consent rates involving patients eligible for a study of blood culture collection strategies for methods on the detection of bacteremia and determination of inter-rater agreement regarding study eligibility between the research nurse and primary investigator.


METHODS
An urban pediatric emergency department (ED).


METHODS
Patients presenting to the ED between February 1, 1991, and February 1, 1993, with suspected bacteremia.


METHODS
Addition of a research nurse to the study group to identify, educate, and enroll eligible study patients.


METHODS
Patient enrollment rates.


RESULTS
Successful enrollment of eligible study patients was 14% (40/281) during the year prior to the addition of the research nurse and 50% (126/253) after the addition (P < 0.001). Refusal rates were 21% (22/106) when recruitment was carried out by the nurse and 15% (13/86) when done by physicians (P = 0.41). Review of records to identify eligible study patients showed agreement between the study nurse and physician on 78/80 (97.5%) of the charts reviewed (kappa = 0.94).


CONCLUSIONS
Addition of a shared research nurse increased recruitment of patients and demonstrated equivalent judgment of the research nurse and physician investigators regarding patient eligibility for the study. This arrangement demonstrates a practical and effective means of increasing the efficiency of ED-based clinical research.
Isaacman
D J
DJ
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pennsylvania, USA.
Reynolds
E A
EA
D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009726:Nurses / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data