Recruitment into the Alzheimer Prevention Trials (APT) Webstudy for a Trial-Ready Cohort for Preclinical and
S Walter1, T B Clanton, O G Langford
1S. Walter, Alzheimer's Therapeutic Research Institute, University of Southern California, San Diego, CA, USA, waltersa@usc.edu.
Insights
The Alzheimer Prevention Trials (APT) Webstudy successfully enrolled over 30,000 participants remotely using online registries. This demonstrates a feasible method for recruiting for Alzheimer's disease research, though diversity improvements are needed.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gerontology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- The Alzheimer Prevention Trials (APT) Webstudy is a crucial first step in building a Trial-ready Cohort for Preclinical and Prodromal Alzheimer's disease (TRC-PAD).
- This paper details the recruitment strategies employed for the APT Webstudy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To remotely enroll a large cohort for a longitudinal, web-based observational study on Alzheimer's disease.
- To facilitate participant referral to in-clinic assessments for biomarker confirmation and potential enrollment in the Trial-ready Cohort (TRC).
Main Methods:
- Utilized existing registries and central/site recruitment efforts for participant enrollment.
- Employed Urchin Tracking Modules (UTM) to analyze the effectiveness of electronic recruitment channels.
- Conducted quarterly remote cognitive and functional assessments.
Main Results:
- Successfully enrolled 30,650 participants by April 2020, with 69.7% recruited via online registries.
- Registry emails proved to be the most effective recruitment method.
- The cohort demographics (73.1% female, 85.0% highly educated, 92.5% Caucasian) reflect the referral registries.
Conclusions:
- Confirmed the feasibility of remote enrollment for a web-based study using online registries as a primary recruitment source.
- Highlighted the need for enhanced recruitment initiatives to improve cohort diversity for future clinical trials.
- Aims to create clinical trial cohorts that better represent the diverse US population.
Background:
The Alzheimer Prevention Trials (APT) Webstudy is the first stage in establishing a Trial-ready Cohort for Preclinical and Prodromal Alzheimer's disease (TRC-PAD). This paper describes recruitment approaches for the APT Webstudy.
Objectives:
To remotely enroll a cohort of individuals into a web-based longitudinal observational study. Participants are followed quarterly with brief cognitive and functional assessments, and referred to Sites for in-clinic testing and biomarker confirmation prior to enrolling in the Trial-ready Cohort (TRC).
Design:
Participants are referred to the APT Webstudy from existing registries of individuals interested in brain health and Alzheimer's disease research, as well as through central and site recruitment efforts. The study team utilizes Urchin Tracking Modules (UTM) codes to better understand the impact of electronic recruitment methods.
Setting:
A remotely enrolled online study.
Participants:
Volunteers who are at least 50 years old and interested in Alzheimer's research.
Measurements:
Demographics and recruitment source of participant where measured by UTM.
Results:
30,650 participants consented to the APT Webstudy as of April 2020, with 69.7% resulting from referrals from online registries. Emails sent by the registry to participants were the most effective means of recruitment. Participants are distributed across the US, and the demographics of the APT Webstudy reflect the referral registries, with 73.1% female, 85.0% highly educated, and 92.5% Caucasian.
Conclusions:
We have demonstrated the feasibility of enrolling a remote web-based study utilizing existing registries as a primary referral source. The next priority of the study team is to engage in recruitment initiatives that will improve the diversity of the cohort, towards the goal of clinical trials that better represent the US population.
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