title: Recruitment and retention of older adults in influenza immunization study.
abstract: Minority older adults have been under-represented in previous research studies in which Caucasian populations have been recruited. This article describes a consumer-centered model that addresses strategies to enhance recruitment and retention of a racially diverse healthy elderly population in an influenza immunization study. A consumer-centered model was employed in a 3-year research study that examined age-related changes in the immune responses to influenza vaccination. Four factors seem to be critical for successful recruitment and retention of African American, Latino and Caucasian elders: (1) building trust between the research team, and the community at large; (2) convenience (or inconvenience) to the volunteer; (3) timing of recruitment and data collection; and (4) incentives.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA. ewg22@drexel.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Murasko
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology*; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D018579:Patient Selection; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D035844:Researcher-Subject Relations / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines