title: Responding to a significant recruitment challenge within three nationwide psychoeducational trials for cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  When faced with a significant recruitment challenge for three nationwide psychoeducational trials targeting prostate and breast cancer patients, the Cancer Information Service Research Consortium initiated outreach efforts to increase accrual. Recruitment is reported by major outreach strategy to inform the use of similar campaigns, either as primary recruitment efforts or to supplement "in-reach" recruitment within oncology settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 33-month period, recruitment was tracked from the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service (CIS), the American Cancer Society (ACS), Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation's Love/Avon Army of Women (AOW), Internet advertising, press releases, radio/television interviews, recruitment materials in community venues, and outreach to churches and cancer support organizations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across projects, the majority (89 %) of recruited participants (N = 2,134) was obtained from the CIS (n = 901, 19 months of recruitment), AOW (n = 869, 18 months), and ACS (n = 123, 12 months). Other efforts showed minimal gain in recruitment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cancer information programs (e.g., CIS and ACS) and registries of individuals willing to participate in cancer-related research (e.g., AOW) can represent exceptional resources for outreach recruitment of cancer patients, especially when the eligibility criteria are highly restrictive. However, these resources do not yield samples representative of the larger population of adults diagnosed with cancer, and conclusions from such trials must be tempered accordingly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inadequate recruitment to randomized controlled trials limits the creation of useful interventions for cancer survivors. By enrolling in cancer registries and taking part in research, cancer survivors can contribute to the development of effective resources for the survivor population.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry/Biobehavioral Sciences, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA. astanton@ucla.edu
authors.forename: Annette L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Stanton
authors.forename: Marion E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Morra
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Diefenbach
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Rosemarie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Slevin Perocchia
authors.forename: Peter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Raich
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fleisher
authors.forename: Kuang-Yi
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Zung Vu
authors.initials: ZV
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Nihal E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Roshini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Mary Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bright
authors.forename: Alfred C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Marcus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013690:Television; D055815:Young Adult