title: Recruitment and retention of pregnant women for a behavioral intervention: lessons from the maternal adiposity, metabolism, and stress (MAMAS) study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recruiting participants for research studies can be challenging. Many studies fall short of their target or must prolong recruitment to reach it. We examined recruitment and retention strategies and report lessons learned in a behavioral intervention developmental trial to encourage healthy pregnancy weight gain and stress reduction in low-income overweight pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the San Francisco Bay area from February 2010 through March 2011, we used direct and indirect strategies to recruit English-speaking overweight and obese pregnant women who were aged 18 to 45, were in the early stages of pregnancy, and who had an annual household income less than 500% of the federal poverty guidelines. Eligible women who consented participated in focus groups or an 8-week behavioral intervention. We identified successful recruiting strategies and sites and calculated the percentage of women who were enrolled and retained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 127 women screened for focus group participation, 69 were eligible and enrolled. A total of 57 women participated in 9 focus groups and 3 women completed individual interviews for a completion rate of 87%. During recruitment for the intervention, we made contact with 204 women; 135 were screened, 33% were eligible, and 69.1% of eligible women enrolled. At 1 month postpartum, 82.6% of eligible women completed an assessment. Recruiting at hospital-based prenatal clinics was the highest-yielding strategy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The narrow window of eligibility for enrolling early stage pregnant women in a group intervention presents obstacles. In-person recruitment was the most successful strategy; establishing close relationships with providers, clinic staff, social service providers, and study participants was essential to successful recruitment and retention.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health and Community, University of California, 3333 California St, Ste 465, Box 0844, San Francisco, CA 94143-0844, USA. ColemanPhoxK@chc.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Coleman-Phox
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Laraia
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: Cassandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vieten
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Elissa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Epel
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D008660:Metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018579:Patient Selection; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology; D012495:San Francisco; D013312:Stress, Physiological