Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
14:43
A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
Published on: January 12, 2018
14.4K
Effective Strategies for Maintaining Research Participation in Clinical Trials.
Allen Zweben1, Lisa M Fucito, Stephanie S O'Malley
1Columbia University, School of Social Work, New York, New York.
Drug Information Journal
|December 7, 2013
Summary
Maintaining participant follow-up in clinical trials is crucial for scientific validity. This study explores strategies to improve retention, especially in alcohol-dependent populations, using the COMBINE trial as an example.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Trials
- Behavioral Science
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- High protocol adherence is vital for clinical trial success and scientific integrity.
- While recruitment and treatment adherence are studied, participant retention during follow-up receives less attention.
- Substance-dependent populations often exhibit poor adherence, posing challenges for long-term studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine factors contributing to poor follow-up rates in clinical research.
- To identify and discuss strategies for enhancing participant commitment and addressing nonadherence.
- To highlight effective retention methods, particularly for alcohol- and substance-dependent individuals.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on clinical trial adherence and retention strategies.
- Analysis of factors associated with poor research follow-up.
- Case study examination of the COMBINE Study (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism-funded trial).
Main Results:
- The COMBINE Study, a multisite trial for alcohol problems, achieved high one-year follow-up rates.
- Factors influencing adherence and retention were identified.
- The role of coordinating centers in facilitating research retention was discussed.
Conclusions:
- Effective strategies are necessary to maintain participant follow-up in clinical trials.
- Special attention to vulnerable populations, such as those with alcohol dependence, is required for successful retention.
- Coordinating centers play a significant role in improving research retention rates.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Clinical Trials
8.5K
Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and medical devices. Using statistics in clinical trials enables researchers to derive reasonable and accurate conclusions from the collected data, allowing them to make wise decisions in uncertain situations. In medical research, statistical methods are crucial for preventing errors and bias.
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
There are four phases in a clinical trial. A phase one...
8.5K
01:11Clinical Trials: Overview
4.7K
Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...
4.7K
02:20Longitudinal Research
11.7K
Sometimes we want to see how people change over time, as in studies of human development and lifespan. When we test the same group of individuals repeatedly over an extended period of time, we are conducting longitudinal research. Longitudinal research is a research design in which data-gathering is administered repeatedly over an extended period of time. For example, we may survey a group of individuals about their dietary habits at age 20, retest them a decade later at age 30, and then again...
11.7K
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
627
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
627
01:56Ethics in Research
23.7K
Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.
23.7K
01:11Blinding
2.9K
Blinding is a commonly used method of not telling participants which treatment a subject is receiving. Blinding is a critical part of a randomized control trial or RCT. It reduces the bias that affects the results. In an RCT, blinding is used in the form of a placebo. A placebo effect occurs when untreated subjects falsely believe they have received the treatment and report improved symptoms. A placebo or a dummy treatment is administered to subjects to negate the bias caused by such an effect.
2.9K