Recruiting adults with osteoarthritis into an aquatic exercise class: strategies for a statewide intervention

Although research suggests that regular exercise can be helpful in reducing the dysfunction and discomfort of osteoarthritis, promoting exercise among older adults within this population is neither straightforward nor easily accomplished. This article describes the various methods, and their relative success rates, that were employed to recruit older adults throughout the state of Washington into an aquatic exercise program.

Strategies included a recruitment letter distributed to Arthritis Foundation (AF) members in Washington state, local media news coverage, physician referrals, and advertisements in local papers and newsletters.

The most successful methods for enrolling participants were through the AF recruitment letters and local television coverage. The AF recruitment letter was the most expensive method of generating responses, while the television coverage was the least expensive.

Collaborating with a well-reputed community-based organization and capitalizing on available publicity resources are important strategies researchers can use to gain access to a difficult and geographically dispersed population.