Inclusive Recruitment Strategies to Maximize Sociodemographic Diversity among Participants: A St. Louis Case Study

Area of Science:

• Health decision-making research
• Health communication
• Behavior change interventions

Background:

• Sociodemographically diverse samples are crucial for health decision-making research.
• Researchers often lack resources for recruiting diverse populations.
• Effective recruitment strategies are needed to overcome these barriers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the effectiveness and cost of recruitment strategies for a diverse sample.
• To provide data for researchers planning inclusive study recruitment.
• To inform funders about the costs associated with maximizing diversity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized participant-generated data, staff salary data, and participant observation.
• Examined strategies for screening, enrolling, and retaining participants.
• Conducted a randomized controlled trial on risk communication and behavior change.

Main Results:

• Enrolled 554 participants, with 45.2% from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups and 19.4% with no college education.
• 93% retention at 90-day follow-up with a total cost of $19,898.50 ($35.92 per participant).
• In-person recruitment was most effective for diversity but most expensive; word-of-mouth had the lowest cost per participant.

Conclusions:

• Results offer practical strategies for medical decision-making researchers to enhance study sample diversity.
• Highlights the need for institutional support and funding to achieve sociodemographic diversity.
• Emphasizes the role of a diverse recruitment staff in achieving a diverse study sample.