Recruitment process of a Chinese immigrant study in Canada

Area of Science:

• Community Health
• Dietary Interventions
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Antihypertensive dietary interventions are crucial for managing high blood pressure.
• Recruitment and participation challenges exist within specific ethnic communities, such as Chinese Canadians.
• Understanding participant characteristics is key to designing effective health programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail the recruitment process and participant demographics for an antihypertensive dietary educational intervention pilot trial.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of self-referral and proactive recruitment strategies.
• To identify barriers and facilitators for participation among Chinese Canadians.

Main Methods:

• Pilot trial recruitment conducted in a community center setting.
• Utilized both self-referral and proactive recruitment methods.
• Blood pressure screening identified eligible participants from the Chinese Canadian community.

Main Results:

• Out of 618 screened, 105 (17.0%) were eligible; 60 (57.1%) consented to participate.
• Primary reasons for refusal included access to the location (42.2%) and time constraints (40.0%).
• Participants were Chinese immigrants with low English proficiency, strong traditional health beliefs, and a preference for Chinese culture.

Conclusions:

• Both self-referral and proactive recruitment were effective in this Chinese Canadian population.
• Home-based interventions utilizing internet and telephone delivery methods are recommended.
• Alternative delivery approaches are essential to improve recruitment and facilitate participation in future trials.