title: A patient-centered analysis of enrollment and retention in a randomized behavioral trial of two cognitive rehabilitation interventions for Mild Cognitive Impairment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A major potential barrier for studying behavioral interventions for patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is the willingness and ability of people to enroll in and adhere to behavioral interventions, especially when the intervention involves dyads of patients with MCI and support partners. Details regarding recruitment strategies and processes (such as number of dyads screened) are often missing from reports of behavioral trials. In addition, reports do not detail the reasons a potentially eligible candidate opts out of participation in a research study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the challenges and successes of enrollment and retention in a behavioral trial for persons with MCI and their care partners, and to better understand barriers to participation from the patient's point of view.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multi-site, randomized trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Major medical centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our accrual target for the study was 60 participants. Potential candidates were patients presenting to memory evaluation clinics whose resulting clinical diagnosis was MCI. A total of 200 consecutive potential candidates were approached about participating in the study across the three sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  Detailed recruitment and retention data of a randomized trial comparing two behavioral interventions (memory notebook training versus computer training) provided in two separate training time frames (10 days versus 6 weeks).
  
  
  METHODS
  Structured interview with those declining to participate in the trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall recruitment 37% with a range of 13%-72% across sites. Overall retention 86% with a range of 74%-94% across sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The primary barriers to enrollment from the patient's perspective were distance to the treatment center and competing comprehensive behavioral programming. However, retention data suggest that those dyads who enroll in behavioral programs are highly committed.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Arizona, Division of Psychology.
authors.forename: Dona E C
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Locke
authors.affiliation: Emory University, Department of Neurology; Mayo Clinic Florida, Division of Psychology.
authors.forename: Melanie Chandler
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Greenaway
authors.affiliation: Emory University, Department of Neurology.
authors.forename: Noah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Rochester, Division of Neurocognitive Disorders.
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Arizona, Division of Psychology.
authors.forename: Andrea V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Cuc
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Arizona, Department of Neurology.
authors.forename: Charlene Hoffman
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Rochester, Division of Neurocognitive Disorders.
authors.forename: Sherrie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Rochester, Division of Neurocognitive Disorders.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lunde
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic Rochester, Division of Neurocognitive Disorders.
authors.forename: Glenn E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Smith
keywords: MCI; behavioral intervention; recruitment; retention