Evaluation of active and passive recruitment methods used in randomized controlled trials targeting pediatric obesity.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate enrollment numbers, randomization rates, costs, and cost-effectiveness of active versus passive recruitment methods for parent-child dyads into two pediatric obesity intervention trials.


METHODS
Recruitment methods were categorized into active (pediatrician referral and targeted mailings, with participants identified by researcher/health care provider) versus passive methods (newspaper, bus, internet, television, and earning statements; fairs/community centers/schools; and word of mouth; with participants self-identified). Numbers of enrolled and randomized families and costs/recruitment method were monitored throughout the 22-month recruitment period. Costs (in USD) per recruitment method included staff time, mileage, and targeted costs of each method.


RESULTS
A total of 940 families were referred or made contact, with 164 families randomized (child: 7.2+/-1.6 years, 2.27+/-0.61 standardized body mass index [zBMI], 86.6% obese, 61.7% female, 83.5% Caucasian; parent: 38.0+/-5.8 years, 32.9+/-8.4 BMI, 55.2% obese, 92.7% female, 89.6% caucasian). Pediatrician referral, followed by targeted mailings, produced the largest number of enrolled and randomized families (both methods combined producing 87.2% of randomized families). Passive recruitment methods yielded better retention from enrollment to randomization (p<0.05), but produced few families (21 in total). Approximately $91,000 was spent on recruitment, with cost per randomized family at $554.77. Pediatrician referral was the most cost-effective method, $145.95/randomized family, but yielded only 91 randomized families over 22-months of continuous recruitment.


CONCLUSIONS
Pediatrician referral and targeted mailings, which are active recruitment methods, were the most successful strategies. However, recruitment demanded significant resources. Successful recruitment for pediatric trials should use several strategies.


BACKGROUND
NCT00259324, NCT00200265.
Raynor
Hollie A
HA
The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA. hraynor@utk.edu
Osterholt
Kathrin M
KM
Hart
Chantelle N
CN
Jelalian
Elissa
E
Vivier
Patrick
P
Wing
Rena R
RR
D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising / Q000191:economics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles / Q000191:economics; D009524:Newspapers as Topic / Q000191:economics; D009765:Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011177:Postal Service / Q000191:economics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000191:economics*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics; D012109:Research Support as Topic; D018401:Sample Size; D013690:Television / Q000191:economics; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States