title: Recruiting elderly patients for non-interventional research - successful strategies and lessons learnt.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our aims were to profile individuals unable to be recruited to a community based non-interventional study investigating warfarin safety, and to share the lessons learnt.
  
  
  METHODS
  The target population comprised community-based adults stabilised on warfarin. Recruitment strategies included partnering with a third party pathology provider, an 'opt out' approach, and minimising the timeframe to recruitment. De-identified data for patients who could and could not be successfully recruited were analysed according to gender, age and reason for declining/inability to participate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 734 eligible patients, 486 were recruited successfully (66%). Of the 247 patients not able to be recruited, the median age was 79 years; 60% were female. Reasons for unsuccessful recruitment included: 115 (47%) 'opted out', 57 (23%) were too unwell, 39 (16%) due to health professional's recommendation, and 36 (14%) were not contactable. Successful strategies included the 'opt out' approach and using a known and trusted third party during patient recruitment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lessons learnt are that multi-dimensional partnerships, including a familiar third party such as a pathology provider or doctor, could be of benefit. An 'opt out' approach, when not used as a substitute for consent, can also be beneficial for recruitment and decreasing administrative burden for GPs.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria. basia.diug@monash.edu
authors.forename: Basia
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Diug
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lowthian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D014859:Warfarin