Strategies for enrolling diverse older women in an osteoporosis trial

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Clinical Trial Recruitment
• Public Health

Background:

• Osteoporosis affects a significant portion of the aging population, necessitating clinical trials for effective treatments.
• Recruiting older adults (age 65+) for clinical trials presents unique challenges.
• Understanding effective recruitment strategies is crucial for advancing osteoporosis research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review a consumer-oriented recruitment process for older adults in an osteoporosis clinical trial.
• To identify the most effective recruitment methods for diverse racial and ethnic groups.

Main Methods:

• Utilized odds ratios to determine the relative effectiveness of different recruitment strategies.
• Analyzed enrollment data from a clinical trial involving African American, White, and Hispanic women aged 65 and older.

Main Results:

• Mailings and media were effective for large, disease-aware populations familiar with research.
• Interpersonal approaches proved more effective for smaller populations unaware of their personal risk or research procedures.
• 168 women were enrolled out of 904 screened.

Conclusions:

• Recruitment method effectiveness is contingent on the target population's characteristics and community context.
• Knowledge of potential volunteers' demographics and community awareness is key to selecting appropriate recruitment strategies.
• This study provides insights for optimizing recruitment in future osteoporosis clinical trials.