Recruitment of a racially and ethnically diverse sample into a physical activity efficacy trial.
BACKGROUND
Healthy People 2010 underscores the relevance of eliminating health disparities. Thus, it is paramount to create interventions that promote health for all individuals.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined differences in rates of and reasons for ineligibility among non-Hispanic blacks and whites in a randomized controlled physical activity intervention study.


METHODS
Participants (1245 adults) responded to community advertising for the research study. Eligibility at the four pre-randomization assessment sessions was determined by self-reported medical information, resting EKG, 7-Day Physical Activity Recall, fitness test and Stage of Change. We used t-tests to examine the rates of eligibility among participant subgroups.


RESULTS
Blacks had higher rates of overall ineligibility (86.9%) than whites (75.1%; p < 0.01) and were more likely to be ineligible due to lack of interest or no-show at a pre-randomization appointment (35.4% vs. 24.3%; p < 0.01). Blacks were more likely to be ineligible for medical reasons after the telephone screen (16.3% vs. 7.8%; p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This study did not use a random sampling of potential participants from each of the racial/ethnic groups and thus, there is the potential for selection bias.


CONCLUSIONS
Blacks were more likely to choose not to enroll in the study due to a lack of interest, but had similar rates of overall medical ineligibility to whites. This highlights the importance of strategies that enhance interest among blacks, who initially respond to recruitment advertising.
Frierson
Georita M
GM
Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas 75275-0442, USA. georitafrierson@yahoo.com
Williams
David M
DM
Dunsiger
Shira
S
Lewis
Beth A
BA
Whiteley
Jessica A
JA
Albrecht
Anna E
AE
Jakicic
John M
JM
Horowitz
Santina M
SM
Marcus
Bess H
BH
D001741:Black or African American; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005006:Ethnicity; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D010414:Pennsylvania; D044469:Racial Groups; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012237:Rhode Island; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People