Recruitment strategies for an osteoporosis clinical trial: analysis of effectiveness

To examine the effectiveness of a planned rapid recruitment strategy in an osteoporosis clinical trial.

Multiple recruitment methods were explored, including media advertising, searching bone density scan and X-ray results in specialist and primary practice databases, community initiatives, and generation of research centre and study-specific pamphlets.

Of 246 women screened, 41 consenting to the study, only 14 were randomised. Thus, 232 (94%) volunteers were screen failures, ineligible or declined to participate. With regard to the cost-effectiveness of all recruitment strategies, searching the research centre database was the most successful, with four women randomised at a cost of approximately NZ$302 per volunteer. Other strategies were less cost-effective.

Obtaining a specific study cohort can be achieved by a comprehensive, targeted, rapid recruitment program. A research centre database search was the most successful and cost-effective recruitment modality in this small study.