Promoting independence in residential care: successful recruitment for a randomized controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the recruitment strategy and association between facility and staff characteristics and success of resident recruitment for the Promoting Independence in Residential Care (PIRC) trial.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of staff and facility characteristics and recruitment rates within facilities with calculation of cluster effects of multiple measures.


METHODS
Staff of low-level dependency residential care facilities and residents able to engage in a physical activity program in 2 cities in New Zealand.


METHODS
A global impression of staff willingness to facilitate research was gauged by research nurses, facility characteristics were measured by staff interview. Relevant outcomes were measured by resident interview and included the following: (1) Function: Late Life FDI scale, timed-up-and-go, FICSIT balance scale and the Elderly Mobility Scale; (2) Quality of Life: EuroQol quality of life scale, Life Satisfaction Index; and (3) falls were assessed by audit of the medical record. Correlation between recruitment rates, facility characteristics and global impression of staff willingness to participate were investigated. Design effects were calculated on outcomes.


RESULTS
Forty-one (85%) facilities and 682 (83%) residents participated, median age was 85 years (range 65-101), and 74% were women. Participants had complex health problems. Recruitment rates were associated (but did not increase linearly) with the perceived willingness of staff, and were not associated with facility size. Design effects from the cluster recruitment differed according to outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
The recruitment strategy was successful in recruiting a large sample of people with complex comorbidities and high levels of functional disability despite perceptions of staff reluctance. Staff willingness was related to recruitment success.
Peri
Kathryn
K
School of Nursing, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Kerse
Ngaire
N
Kiata
Liz
L
Wilkinson
Tim
T
Robinson
Elizabeth
E
Parsons
John
J
Willingale
Jane
J
Parsons
Matthew
M
Brown
Paul
P
Pearson
Janet
J
von Randow
Martin
M
Arroll
Bruce
B
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D016852:Housing for the Elderly; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand; D018579:Patient Selection; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life