Volunteers as adjunct researchers in a cancer prevention trial: the American Cancer Society Colon Polyp Prevention...

In April 1991, the Virginia Division of the American Cancer Society (ACS) initiated the feasibility phase of the Colon Polyp Prevention Study (CPPS) to determine whether a high fiber supplement would decrease new adenomatous colorectal polyp occurrence. The feasibility phase had two specific objectives: 1) to evaluate accrual and compliance to the designed protocol and 2) to evaluate and demonstrate the effectiveness of volunteers as research assistants. The CPPS is an innovative project in which trained volunteers play a significant role in the research process.

In the CPPS, volunteer adjunct researchers (VARs) were trained to perform individual dietary data collection and intervention and other general study monitoring functions. VARs were trained, certified, and monitored in the performance of their assigned tasks by ACS staff and expert consultants.

A total of 119 volunteers were trained as VARs, 74 of whom were certified and matched to a study participant. Between 1991-1995, only six VARs left the study. After active accrual of participants to the study ceased in 1995, 38 VARs (50% of the certified VARs) continued to monitor the active study participants. All VARs were consistently able to conduct the functions for which they were trained.

In spite of expected volunteer attrition rates, a core of 38 dedicated VARs were matched to 72 participants and demonstrated the ability to perform selected data collecting activities on a consistent and efficient basis. The use of trained volunteers has allowed the CPPS to function in its feasibility phase at personnel cost considerably less than that of other similar cancer prevention trials.