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Recruitment issues in a randomized controlled exercise trial targeting wheelchair users.

Dorothy E Nary1, Katherine Froehlich-Grobe, Lauren Aaronson

  • 1Gerontology Center, Schiefelbush Institute for Life Span Studies, The University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside, Dole 3090, Lawrence, KS 66045, United States.

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Recruiting wheelchair users for exercise trials without clinical access is challenging. Success requires significant time, resources, and strong community partnerships.

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Area of Science:

  • Rehabilitation research
  • Clinical trial design
  • Exercise science

Background:

  • Conducting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) without direct clinical population access presents unique recruitment hurdles.
  • Home and community-based interventions require tailored strategies for participant engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To detail the recruitment process, challenges, and lessons learned from an exercise RCT involving wheelchair users.
  • To identify effective recruitment methods for hard-to-reach populations in exercise intervention studies.

Main Methods:

  • A home and community-based exercise intervention was implemented for 135 wheelchair users over 44 months.
  • Screening of 323 inquirers identified 150 (46.4%) ineligible participants due to physical or medical contraindications.
  • Paid media and healthcare provider outreach were primary recruitment sources.

Main Results:

  • Recruitment demanded more time and resources than initially estimated.
  • High ineligibility rates were observed, primarily due to arm movement restrictions, cognitive impairment, or exercise contraindications.
  • Paid advertisements and healthcare provider placements were most effective in reaching potential participants.

Conclusions:

  • RCT participant recruitment outside clinical settings necessitates substantial investment in time and resources.
  • Building relationships with gatekeepers, maintaining public visibility, and continuous recruitment efforts are crucial for successful enrollment.
  • Strategies for recruiting wheelchair users for exercise trials must address specific eligibility criteria and utilize diverse outreach channels.