title: Enhancing recruitment and retention of minority young women in community-based clinical research.
abstract: Women are disproportionately affected by the sexually transmitted infections (STI) epidemic, with African-Americans and Latinos at significantly higher risk for STIs than Caucasians. Successful recruitment and retention strategies used with young minority women in community-based STI prevention or intervention research have not been previously reported. This communication presents eight key strategies learned in the recruitment and retention of 16- to 21-year-old urban women participating in a 12-month randomized clinical trial designed to promote STI screening to decrease the duration of untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea infection. Strategies learned include: (1) Educate clinic staff on the rigors of study design; (2) Facilitate a team effort between clinical and research staff; modify recruitment procedures, as needed; (3) Provide prospective participants the option of enrolling by return appointment; (4) Anticipate a diminishing recruitment pool over time; (5) Set positive recruitment tone at the beginning of each clinic session; (6) Consider participants' mothers as important points of contact; (7) Match communication styles to participant contacts; and (8) Consider a variety of retention techniques. Together, these strategies helped to reinforce participant's commitment to the project, facilitated their attendance at interviews, and encouraged them to adhere to the treatment protocol.
authors.affiliation: Section of Adolescent Medicine & Sports Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030-2399, USA. cwiemann@bcm.tmc.edu
authors.forename: Constance M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wiemann
authors.forename: Mariam R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Chacko
authors.forename: Jacinda C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Velasquez
authors.forename: Peggy B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Ralph J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: DiClemente
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: von Sternberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups; D018579:Patient Selection; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014505:Urban Population