title: A Conceptual Model to Promote the Retention of Women with Physical Disabilities in Research.
abstract: Inadequate participant recruitment and retention practices can affect sample representativeness and thus the generalizability of research findings. Retention of research participants has been examined within the literature to some extent; however, there is no consensus on best practice in achieving acceptable results. Furthermore, there is a gap in understanding how to engage and retain women with physical disabilities (WPDs) in research. To address these oversights, we review (1) the significance of retention as a methodological concern, (2) factors that influence the involvement and retention of participants in research, including individual, population, and health-illness considerations, and (3) particular circumstances impacting the inclusion and retention of WPDs in research. On the basis of a review of the literature and our experience with the Healing Pathways randomized controlled trial (RCT), we present a conceptual model to guide culturally sensitive health research implementation with WPDs, and promote the engagement and retention of this group in RCTs and other forms of interventional health research.
authors: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Mood
authors: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
authors: Dena
authors: D
authors: Hassouneh
authors: Regional Research Institute, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: McNeff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: disability; partnerships; program planning; prospective studies