title: Lifestyle interventions and independence for elders study: recruitment and baseline characteristics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recruitment of older adults into long-term clinical trials involving behavioral interventions is a significant challenge. The Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study is a Phase 3 multicenter randomized controlled multisite trial, designed to compare the effects of a moderate-intensity physical activity program with a successful aging health education program on the incidence of major mobility disability (the inability to walk 400 m) in sedentary adults aged 70-89 years, who were at high risk for mobility disability (scoring ≤ 9 on the Short Physical Performance Battery) at baseline.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recruitment methods, yields, efficiency, and costs are described together with a summary of participant baseline characteristics. Yields were examined across levels of sex, race and ethnicity, and Short Physical Performance Battery, as well as by site.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 21-month recruiting period resulted in 14,812 telephone screens; 1,635 participants were randomized (67.2% women, 21.0% minorities, 44.7% with Short Physical Performance Battery scores ≤ 7). Of the telephone-screened participants, 37.6% were excluded primarily because of regular participation in physical activity, health exclusions, or self-reported mobility disability. Direct mailing was the most productive recruitment strategy (59.5% of randomized participants). Recruitment costs were $840 per randomized participant. Yields differed by sex and Short Physical Performance Battery. We accrued 11% more participant follow-up time than expected during the recruitment period as a result of the accelerated recruitment rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LIFE Study achieved all recruitment benchmarks. Bulk mailing is an efficient method for recruiting high-risk community-dwelling older persons (including minorities), from diverse geographic areas for this long-term behavioral trial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27109-7868. marshap@wfu.edu.
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: Laura C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lovato
authors.forename: Nancy W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Glynn
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Domanchuk
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McDavitt
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodate
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marsiske
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGloin
authors.forename: Erik J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Groessl
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pahor
authors.forename: Jack M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guralnik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D032763:Behavior Control / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D014481:United States
keywords: Minority recruitment; Mobile disability; Older adults; Physical activity; Randomized controlled trial.