Using Iterative Concept Testing to Identify Key Considerations for Increasing Research Participation Among Older...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Clinical Research Recruitment
• Health Communication

Background:

• The U.S. population is aging and diversifying, increasing the prevalence of age-related diseases like Alzheimer's.
• Under-representation of diverse older adults in clinical research limits generalizability and therapeutic development.
• Targeted messaging is crucial for increasing participation in Alzheimer's and dementia research studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and refine theory-based, targeted social media messages for recruiting diverse older adults into an Alzheimer's and dementia research registry.
• To apply the reasoned action approach (RAA) to create messages that resonate with specific racial and ethnic groups.
• To address the gap in understanding how to translate health messaging research into effective recruitment strategies.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 20 focus groups with 185 Hispanic, Black, and White adults aged 50-80 in the U.S.
• Utilized an iterative concept testing approach to refine recruitment messages.
• Focused on social media advertising strategies for participant recruitment.

Main Results:

• Participants preferred recruitment messages attributed to reputable sources to mitigate concerns about online scams.
• The use of racially and ethnically diverse images in advertisements was preferred over single-race/ethnicity images.
• Key considerations for effective social media recruitment of diverse older adults were identified.

Conclusions:

• Tailored social media advertising, emphasizing source credibility and diverse imagery, can enhance recruitment of under-represented older adults in medical research.
• Findings offer a practical framework for developing effective recruitment messages applicable beyond Alzheimer's research.
• The reasoned action approach provides a valuable theoretical basis for message development in diverse populations.