title: Strategies to enhance participant recruitment and retention in research involving a community-based population.
abstract: Challenges associated with recruiting and retaining community-based populations in research studies have been recognized yet remain of major concern for researchers. There is a need for exchange of recruitment and retention techniques that inform recruitment and retention strategies. Here, the authors discuss a variety of methods that were successful in exceeding target recruitment and retention goals in a randomized clinical trial of hearing protector use among farm operators. Recruitment and retention strategies were 1) based on a philosophy of mutually beneficial engagement in the research process, 2) culturally appropriate, 3) tailored to the unique needs of partnering agencies, and 4) developed and refined in a cyclical and iterative process. Sponsoring organizations are interested in cost-effective recruitment and retention strategies, particularly relating to culturally and ethnically diverse groups. These approaches may result in enhanced subject recruitment and retention, concomitant containment of study costs, and timely accomplishment of study aims.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Nursing Program University of Michigan School, of Nursing, 400N. Ingalls Street room 3182, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA 48019. Electronic address: mcculla@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Marjorie C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: McCullagh
authors.affiliation: University of Michigan School of Nursing, 400 N. Ingalls Street room 3175, Ann Arbor, MI, USA 48109-5482. Electronic address: sanon@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Marie-Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sanon
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Nursing Program University of Michigan School, of Nursing, 400N. Ingalls Street room 3182, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA 48019. Electronic address: miccohen@med.umich.edu.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans
keywords: Clinical trials; Farmers; Noise induced hearing loss; Recruitment; Retention