title: Recruitment and retention of healthy and high-risk older adults for a multiyear influenza vaccination study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate five different recruitment strategies for their capacity to enroll and retain both healthy and vulnerable older adults as part of a multiyear influenza vaccination study.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed recruitment methods and other characteristics ofindividuals who participated in or were considered for five sequential one-year studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 940 screened individuals, 820 met eligibility criteria with 795 enrolled over the five-year study (307 primary participants). Among these enrollees, 63.4% were female and 95.5% were white, with mean ages of 75.3 (older group) and 30.6 (younger group). More than a half (56.7%) of the participants enrolled more than once, participating an average of 2.56 (SD = 1.6) times. The majority (81.9%) of individuals recruited each year were return participants identified during earlier recruitments. Physician referrals resulted in only 5.3% recruitments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recruitment and retention of study subjects, especially older adults, was facilitated by the existence ofa database listing past participants.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dill
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Unson
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kenyon-Pesce
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kuchel
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McElhaney
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising; D000368:Aged; D019992:Databases as Topic; D034742:Electronic Mail; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D011177:Postal Service; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines