title: Recruitment and retention of primary care patients into a research study investigating medication adherence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General practitioners (GPs) and patients are key sources of information for investigating primary health care. However, recruiting these into health care studies has been reported to be difficult.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the recruitment and retention rates of GP practices and patients into a research project in the primary health care setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  All general practices in Dunedin, New Zealand, with three or more practitioners were invited to participate in a study investigating medication adherence. In practices that agreed to participate, 100 patients were recruited from waiting rooms and followed up by telephone over six months. The main outcome measures included recruitment rates of GPs and patients, the level of retention and loss to follow-up of patients over a six-month period, the drop out and reasons for this drop out.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only two of the 15 practices agreed to participate. To recruit 100 patients, 203 people were approached. Reasons for not wanting to participate were recorded where possible. Of those that agreed to participate, 86% of doctor consultations resulted in a prescription and, of these prescriptions, 87% were reported to be collected as prescribed. At the end of six months, 68 patients still remained in the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients were interested in being involved in this type of study and were recruited at a rate of 82% and 56% depending on the practice. After the initial drop out, most patients remained in the study until the conclusion. Recruitment of general practices remains challenging.
authors: School of Pharmacy, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
authors: Shih Yen
authors: SY
authors: Chang
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Horsburgh
authors: Pauline
authors: P
authors: Norris
authors: Rhiannon
authors: R
authors: Braund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012107:Research Design