Recruitment and retention of participants from socioeconomically deprived communities: lessons from the Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus3) Randomised Controlled Trial
Abstract Background Recruitment of research participants poses challenges in socioeconomically deprived areas. The Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus) phase 3 Randomised Control Trial recruited adult participants from socioeconomically deprived areas using a combined healthcare/community eng...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Research Methodology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12874-020-01149-x |
| _version_ | 1818341211427045376 |
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| author | Vasiliki Kolovou Yvonne Moriarty Stephanie Gilbert Harriet Quinn-Scoggins Julia Townson Louise Padgett Sioned Owen Peter Buckle Adrian Edwards Julie Hepburn Mandy Lau Maura Matthews Caroline Mitchell Richard Neal Rebecca Playle Mike Robling Stephanie Smits Rob Trubey Fiona Wood Kate Brain |
| author_facet | Vasiliki Kolovou Yvonne Moriarty Stephanie Gilbert Harriet Quinn-Scoggins Julia Townson Louise Padgett Sioned Owen Peter Buckle Adrian Edwards Julie Hepburn Mandy Lau Maura Matthews Caroline Mitchell Richard Neal Rebecca Playle Mike Robling Stephanie Smits Rob Trubey Fiona Wood Kate Brain |
| author_sort | Vasiliki Kolovou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Recruitment of research participants poses challenges in socioeconomically deprived areas. The Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus) phase 3 Randomised Control Trial recruited adult participants from socioeconomically deprived areas using a combined healthcare/community engagement model. We report the strategies used to successfully recruit and retain our trial participant sample. Methods Community and healthcare settings in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation were identified by lay advisors who recruited participants opportunistically or by appointment. Follow-up was done by telephone or post at 2-weeks and 6-months after recruitment, and all participants were offered financial incentives. Qualitative interviews were conducted with lay advisors regarding their experience and reflections. Results The lay advisors identified and contacted 107 potential recruitment venues across South and West Yorkshire and South East Wales of which 41.1% (n = 42) were opened for recruitment. A total of 234 participants were recruited, with 91% (n = 212) retention at 2-weeks and 85% (n = 199) at 6-months. Community settings yielded 75% (n = 176) of participants. Participants had a mean age of 61.3 years and 63.3% (n = 148) were female, with 66% (n = 154) resident in the most deprived geographical areas. Lay advisors described recruitment as intensive, although engaging participants was easier in community settings. Conclusions The ABACus3 trial achieved recruitment and high retention with a population that is often “hard to reach” or entirely missed in health research. Strategies were specifically tailored to engage the venues and adult residents of highly deprived areas. Future studies recruiting adults living in the most deprived areas might benefit from community recruitment and from collaborating with local gatekeepers who are key to engagement. This study adheres to CONSORT guidelines. Trial registration Retrospectively registered with ISRCTN ( http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16872545 ) on 12.01.2018. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T15:55:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-161c78512851423e8f9876a4b1fca476 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2288 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T15:55:11Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Research Methodology |
| spelling | doaj.art-161c78512851423e8f9876a4b1fca4762022-12-21T23:39:20ZengBMCBMC Medical Research Methodology1471-22882020-11-012011910.1186/s12874-020-01149-xRecruitment and retention of participants from socioeconomically deprived communities: lessons from the Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus3) Randomised Controlled TrialVasiliki Kolovou0Yvonne Moriarty1Stephanie Gilbert2Harriet Quinn-Scoggins3Julia Townson4Louise Padgett5Sioned Owen6Peter Buckle7Adrian Edwards8Julie Hepburn9Mandy Lau10Maura Matthews11Caroline Mitchell12Richard Neal13Rebecca Playle14Mike Robling15Stephanie Smits16Rob Trubey17Fiona Wood18Kate Brain19Centre for Trials Research Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityCentre for Trials Research Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityCentre for Trials Research Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityDivision of Population Medicine, Cardiff UniversityCentre for Trials Research Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityDepartment of Health Sciences, University of YorkCentre for Trials Research Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityCentre for Trials Research Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityCentre for Trials Research Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityLead Lay Research Partner Wales Cancer Research CentreCentre for Trials Research Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityTENOVUS Cancer Care Gofal CanserAcademic Unit of Primary Medical Care, University of SheffieldLeeds Institute for Health Sciences, University of LeedsCentre for Trials Research Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityCentre for Trials Research Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityDivision of Population Medicine, Cardiff UniversityCentre for Trials Research Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityDivision of Population Medicine, Cardiff UniversityDivision of Population Medicine, Cardiff UniversityAbstract Background Recruitment of research participants poses challenges in socioeconomically deprived areas. The Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus) phase 3 Randomised Control Trial recruited adult participants from socioeconomically deprived areas using a combined healthcare/community engagement model. We report the strategies used to successfully recruit and retain our trial participant sample. Methods Community and healthcare settings in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation were identified by lay advisors who recruited participants opportunistically or by appointment. Follow-up was done by telephone or post at 2-weeks and 6-months after recruitment, and all participants were offered financial incentives. Qualitative interviews were conducted with lay advisors regarding their experience and reflections. Results The lay advisors identified and contacted 107 potential recruitment venues across South and West Yorkshire and South East Wales of which 41.1% (n = 42) were opened for recruitment. A total of 234 participants were recruited, with 91% (n = 212) retention at 2-weeks and 85% (n = 199) at 6-months. Community settings yielded 75% (n = 176) of participants. Participants had a mean age of 61.3 years and 63.3% (n = 148) were female, with 66% (n = 154) resident in the most deprived geographical areas. Lay advisors described recruitment as intensive, although engaging participants was easier in community settings. Conclusions The ABACus3 trial achieved recruitment and high retention with a population that is often “hard to reach” or entirely missed in health research. Strategies were specifically tailored to engage the venues and adult residents of highly deprived areas. Future studies recruiting adults living in the most deprived areas might benefit from community recruitment and from collaborating with local gatekeepers who are key to engagement. This study adheres to CONSORT guidelines. Trial registration Retrospectively registered with ISRCTN ( http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16872545 ) on 12.01.2018.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12874-020-01149-xRecruitmentRetentionSocioeconomic deprivationCommunity settingsRandomised control trialHealth intervention |
| spellingShingle | Vasiliki Kolovou Yvonne Moriarty Stephanie Gilbert Harriet Quinn-Scoggins Julia Townson Louise Padgett Sioned Owen Peter Buckle Adrian Edwards Julie Hepburn Mandy Lau Maura Matthews Caroline Mitchell Richard Neal Rebecca Playle Mike Robling Stephanie Smits Rob Trubey Fiona Wood Kate Brain Recruitment and retention of participants from socioeconomically deprived communities: lessons from the Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus3) Randomised Controlled Trial BMC Medical Research Methodology Recruitment Retention Socioeconomic deprivation Community settings Randomised control trial Health intervention |
| title | Recruitment and retention of participants from socioeconomically deprived communities: lessons from the Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus3) Randomised Controlled Trial |
| title_full | Recruitment and retention of participants from socioeconomically deprived communities: lessons from the Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus3) Randomised Controlled Trial |
| title_fullStr | Recruitment and retention of participants from socioeconomically deprived communities: lessons from the Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus3) Randomised Controlled Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recruitment and retention of participants from socioeconomically deprived communities: lessons from the Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus3) Randomised Controlled Trial |
| title_short | Recruitment and retention of participants from socioeconomically deprived communities: lessons from the Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus3) Randomised Controlled Trial |
| title_sort | recruitment and retention of participants from socioeconomically deprived communities lessons from the awareness and beliefs about cancer abacus3 randomised controlled trial |
| topic | Recruitment Retention Socioeconomic deprivation Community settings Randomised control trial Health intervention |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12874-020-01149-x |
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