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Recruiting and retaining mobile young injection drug users in a longitudinal study
Stephen E Lankenau1, Bill Sanders, Dodi Hathazi
1Drexel University, School of Public Health, Department of Community Health and Prevention, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA. sel59@drexel.edu
Retaining mobile subjects in longitudinal studies is challenging. Flexible, qualitative methods like ethnographic fieldwork and direct communication improved retention by 78% in young injection drug users.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Qualitative Research Methods
Background:
- Longitudinal studies involving transient populations, such as homeless individuals or drug users, encounter significant challenges in subject retention.
- Maintaining participant engagement over extended periods is crucial for gathering reliable data in studies of vulnerable groups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of modified ethnographic methodologies in retaining mobile young injection drug users in a 2-year longitudinal study.
- To explore strategies for improving subject retention in challenging research populations.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 101 mobile young injection drug users in Los Angeles for a 2-year longitudinal study (2005-2006).
- Employed ethnographic methodology, including fieldwork and qualitative interviews.
- Implemented design modifications: toll-free calls to ethnographer cell phones and wired incentive payments.
Main Results:
- Achieved a 78% retention rate for the first follow-up interview.
- Demonstrated the feasibility of retaining mobile subjects using adapted qualitative approaches.
Conclusions:
- Flexible, qualitative methodologies are effective in retaining mobile subjects in longitudinal research.
- Ethnographic approaches, combined with practical modifications, enhance participant retention and facilitate emergent findings in hard-to-reach populations.
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