title: The challenge of recruitment.
abstract: Paul Affleck reflects on the challenges posed to researchers in recruiting patients to epidemiological studies. Computerised patient information sources, he argues, offer a valid and accessible means of assisting recruiting processes, with a cancer registry being cited as an example of an appropriate database that can be searched quickly and efficiently to identify possible participants.
authors.affiliation: Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Cancer Research, UK Clinical Centre, St. James' University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Affleck
mesh_terms: D003219:Confidentiality; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D007258:Informed Consent; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D012042:Registries; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data