Challenges and opportunities in recruiting and retaining underrepresented populations into health promotion research

To evaluate how recruitment strategies and program characteristics interact with participant characteristics to influence recruitment and retention in an exercise intervention study targeted to African American and White older adults with multiple chronic illnesses.

Characteristics of 273 referrals and 103 enrollees were analyzed in conjunction with programmatic decisions about recruitment design and eligibility criteria.

Eligible participants who did not enroll were younger and more likely to be under 60 and to self-report having diabetes. After 1 year, 70% of the enrolled participants remained in the program. Program attrition was not associated with randomization, race, or chronic illness but was associated with functional status, having a high school degree, and program site.

Program design decisions can significantly influence the participation of underrepresented populations in exercise health promotion programs for older adults. In particular, group-specific efforts targeted to recruiting and retaining African Americans can be successful.