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A Replicable Model of Recruitment for Longitudinal Research of Preterm Infants
Jessica M Gordon1, Kaitlyn Proschold, Cedric Harville
1Jessica M. Gordon, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, is Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa. Kaitlyn Proschold, MSN, ARNP, CCRN, is Registered Nurse, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. At the time this research was completed, she was graduate nurse research assistant and Jonas Scholar at the College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa. Cedric Harville, II, MPH, is Project Manager, College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa. Samia Dutra, PhD, RN, is Postdoctoral Fellow, College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa. Maureen Groer, PhD, RN, is Professor, College of Nursing, University of South Florida, Tampa.
Insights
This study presents a new recruitment model for longitudinal studies, improving participant enrollment and reducing attrition. Innovative methods like social media contact and online scheduling show promise for research cohorts.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Research Methodology
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- Longitudinal study recruitment and retention are often hindered by participant numbers not reflecting target populations.
- Effective strategies are crucial for successful cohort studies, especially those involving vulnerable populations like preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a replicable recruitment pathway model using retrospective chart review.
- To describe the outcomes of various recruitment methods on enrollment, scheduling, and attrition in a longitudinal study of preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of recruitment data from a parent grant cohort (n=99) for a follow-up study.
- Inclusion criteria applied to identify eligible participants (n=47) for the follow-up microbiome study.
- Analysis of recruitment methods (mail, email, phone, online scheduling, Facebook) over a 3-year period.
Main Results:
- 25 out of 47 eligible participants (53% enrollment rate) were enrolled in the follow-up study over 3 years.
- Phone contact was most frequent for scheduling, with online scheduling showing promise in the preschool group.
- An 8% attrition rate was observed, with only two participants lost to follow-up.
Conclusions:
- The proposed recruitment pathway model offers multiple contact and scheduling methods to enhance enrollment and reduce attrition in longitudinal cohorts.
- Innovative methods, including Facebook for initial contact and online scheduling, demonstrate potential benefits for research staff and participants.
- This model provides a framework for improving recruitment efficiency and participant retention in similar research studies.
Background:
Recruitment and retention in longitudinal studies can be challenging because the numbers of participants may not adequately reflect the targeted population.
Objectives:
The aim of the study was to present a replicable pathway model of recruitment via retrospective chart review and describe outcomes of the recruitment methods used in the model on enrollment, scheduling, and attrition.
Methods:
This retrospective chart review included recruitment data from participants of a parent grant (n = 99) that met chart review inclusion criteria (n = 47) for a follow-up study measuring microbiome data of preterm infants at toddler and preschool age.
Results:
Over a 3-year recruitment period, 25 of the 47 participants eligible for recruitment were enrolled in the follow-up study. Initial contact was more likely to be performed via mail and e-mail for first time points and via phone for subsequent contact and second time points. For scheduling, phone contact was the method utilized most frequently for both groups, with online scheduling second when introduced in the preschool group. Two participants were lost to follow-up, resulting in an attrition rate of 8%.
Discussion:
This recruitment pathway model offers researchers multiple recruitment methods for initial contact and scheduling that may be useful in contacting more participants to positively affect enrollment and reduce attrition rates for longitudinal cohorts. The innovation of recruitment methods via Facebook for initial contact and online scheduling are new methods with promise and multiple benefits for the research staff and participants.
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