title: A randomized controlled trial of the effectiveness of a pre-recruitment primer letter to increase participation in a study of colorectal screening and surveillance.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recruiting cancer patients is a barrier often encountered in research trials. However, very few randomized trials explore strategies to improve participation rates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a pre-recruitment primer letter to recruit persons diagnosed with colorectal cancer for a research trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Potentially eligible participants were identified by the Victorian Cancer Registry. A total of 1,062 participants were randomized to receive either a mailed explanatory primer letter designed to encourage research participation, or no primer letter. Two weeks after the intervention, the Victorian Cancer Registry sought permission from patients to release their contact details to researchers. Those who agreed were contacted and invited to the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pre-recruitment encouragement was not effective at increasing recruitment, with no significant differences demonstrated between experimental groups. Overall, 40% (n = 425) consented to participate, 25% (n = 243) refused and 35% (n = 394) did not respond.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While this study demonstrated disappointing outcomes, pre-recruitment letters should not be ruled out as an approach altogether. Rather, future research should explore whether other factors to increase motivation, such as intensity and timing, are feasible and acceptable for contacting cancer patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12609000628246.
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour (PRCHB), University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. chris.paul@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Courtney
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanson-Fisher
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Jody
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Shiho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000379:methods*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D018579:Patient Selection; D011177:Postal Service; D012107:Research Design