Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains
Published on: June 3, 2020
Recruiting older men for geriatric suicide research
Sunil S Bhar1, Shannon Wiltsey-Stirman, David Zembroski
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. sbhar@swin.edu.au
Background:
Clinical research is required to develop and evaluate suicide prevention interventions in the elderly. However, there is insufficient information available about how to best recruit suicidal older adults for such research. This study evaluated the success and efficiency of five recruitment strategies for a clinical trial on the efficacy of cognitive therapy for suicidal older men.
Methods:
For each strategy, the numbers of individuals approached, screened, and enrolled were calculated, and the expenses and time associated with each enrollment estimated. Men who were 60 years or older and who had a desire for suicide over the past month were eligible for the trial.
Results:
Of 955 individuals considered for trial, 33 were enrolled. Most enrollments were sourced from the Veterans Affairs Behavioral Health Laboratory. Recruiting form this source was also the most time and cost efficient recruitment strategy in the study.
Conclusions:
Recruitment strategies are effective when they are based on collaborative relationships between researchers and providers, and utilize an existing infrastructure for involving patients in ongoing research opportunities.
Insights
Recruiting suicidal older men for clinical trials is challenging. Collaboration and existing infrastructure, like the Veterans Affairs Behavioral Health Laboratory, proved most effective and cost-efficient for enrollment.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric psychiatry
- Clinical trial methodology
- Suicidology
Background:
- Effective suicide prevention interventions for the elderly require robust clinical research.
- Recruiting suicidal older adults for research presents unique challenges.
- Limited data exists on optimal recruitment strategies for this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the success and efficiency of five distinct recruitment strategies.
- To identify the most effective methods for enrolling suicidal older men in a clinical trial.
- To inform future research on suicide prevention in geriatric populations.
Main Methods:
- Assessed numbers of individuals approached, screened, and enrolled for each strategy.
- Calculated expenses and time investment per enrollment.
- Included men aged 60+ with suicidal ideation in the past month.
Main Results:
- 33 out of 955 individuals were enrolled in the trial.
- The Veterans Affairs Behavioral Health Laboratory yielded the most enrollments.
- This source also proved to be the most time and cost-efficient recruitment strategy.
Conclusions:
- Collaborative relationships between researchers and healthcare providers are key to successful recruitment.
- Leveraging existing patient research infrastructure enhances recruitment efficiency.
- These principles can improve the enrollment of older adults in suicide prevention research.
More Related Videos
07:01Working Memory Training for Older Participants: A Control Group Training Regimen and Initial Intellectual Functioning Assessment
Published on: September 20, 2020
08:25Collecting Saliva and Measuring Salivary Cortisol and Alpha-amylase in Frail Community Residing Older Adults via Family Caregivers
Published on: December 18, 2013
Related Concept Videos
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
02:20Longitudinal Research
01:56Ethics in Research
01:18Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion
01:22Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption