Recruitment Strategies and Lessons Learned from the Children's Healthy Living Program Prevalence Survey.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Child Health

Background:

• Childhood obesity prevalence is epidemic in the US Affiliated Pacific region.
• Environmental and cultural diversity pose challenges to public health research in the region.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present recruitment strategies for a multi-site childhood obesity prevalence study.
• To gather comprehensive data on childhood obesity across eleven jurisdictions.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 5,775 children aged 2-8 across eleven US Affiliated Pacific jurisdictions.
• Employed local staff knowledgeable of community nuances for recruitment.
• Utilized predominantly school-based or combined school- and community-based recruitment.

Main Results:

• Successfully recruited a large cohort (n=5775) for obesity-related measurements.
• Participant compensation was adapted to jurisdictional appropriateness (e.g., gift cards, vouchers, cash).
• Key lessons included the importance of organizational buy-in, communication, advance planning, and flexibility.

Conclusions:

• Multi-site prevalence studies require significant coordination, time, and flexibility.
• Future monitoring should integrate measurement into existing infrastructures for sustainability and cost-effectiveness.