title: Effective recruitment strategies and community-based participatory research: community networks program centers' recruitment in cancer prevention studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches that involve community and academic partners in activities ranging from protocol design through dissemination of study findings can increase recruitment of medically underserved and underrepresented racial/ethnic minority populations into biomedical research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five cancer screening and prevention trials in three National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, MD)-funded Community Networks Program Centers (CNPC), in Florida, Kansas, and South Carolina, were conducted across diverse populations. Data were collected on total time period of recruitment, ratios of participants enrolled over potential participants approached, selected CBPR strategies, capacity-building development, and systematic procedures for community stakeholder involvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Community-engaged approaches used included establishing colearning opportunities, participatory procedures for community-academic involvement, and community and clinical capacity building. A relatively large proportion of individuals identified for recruitment was actually approached (between 50% and 100%). The proportion of subjects who were eligible among all those approached ranged from 25% to more than 70% (in the community setting). Recruitment rates were very high (78%-100% of eligible individuals approached) and the proportion who refused or who were not interested among those approached was very low (5%-11%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recruitment strategies used by the CNPCs were associated with low refusal and high enrollment ratios of potential subjects. Adherence to CBPR principles in the spectrum of research activities, from strategic planning to project implementation, has significant potential to increase involvement in biomedical research and improve our ability to make appropriate recommendations for cancer prevention and control programming in underrepresented diverse populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBPR strategies should be more widely implemented to enhance study recruitment.
authors.affiliation: Authors' Affiliations: Departments of Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center; University of Kansas Cancer Center, Kansas City, Kansas; South Carolina Statewide Cancer Prevention and Control Program; Arnold School of Public Health; College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina; and Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida.
authors.forename: K Allen
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Greiner
authors.forename: Daniela B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Swann Arp
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Clement K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Gwede
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cupertino
authors.forename: Kimberly K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Engelman
authors.forename: Cathy D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Meade
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hébert
mesh_terms: D019058:Community Networks; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013022:South Carolina