Retaining traditionally hard to reach participants: Lessons learned from three childhood obesity studies

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Clinical Trial Management
• Health Disparities Research

Background:

• Retaining underserved populations in research trials, including low-income and minority groups, presents significant challenges.
• Childhood obesity prevention trials often struggle with participant attrition, impacting study validity and generalizability.
• Effective retention strategies are crucial for successful longitudinal research, particularly in diverse communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and evaluate participant retention strategies employed across three distinct childhood obesity prevention trials.
• To identify key factors contributing to successful participant retention, particularly among underserved populations.
• To provide recommendations for enhancing retention in future research involving similar demographics.

Main Methods:

• Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies were conducted, focusing on childhood obesity prevention and dietary quality.
• Initial retention strategies included community partnerships, consistent data collection sites, detailed contact information, monetary compensation, and tracking protocols.
• Enhanced strategies involved staff continuity, community service experience for staff, home-based data collection, and staff diversity training.

Main Results:

• The Hip-Hop to Health Jr. (HH) trial achieved 89% retention at 14 weeks, 71% at 1 year, and 73% at 2 years.
• The Hip-Hop to Health Jr. Obesity Prevention Effectiveness Trial (HH Effectiveness) reported 95% completion at 14 weeks and 88% at 1 year.
• The WIC study demonstrated high retention rates of 91% at 12 months and 89% at 18 months.

Conclusions:

• A combination of community engagement, consistent data collection, participant incentives, and robust tracking protocols are vital for retention.
• Emphasis on staff continuity, relevant staff experience, home-based data collection, and diversity training further enhances participant retention.
• These findings offer valuable insights for designing and implementing effective retention strategies in diverse research populations.