Recruiting for research on sensitive topics in schools: an experience with Vaxcards, a collectable vaccine card game

Abstract Undertaking recruitment for research in schools is an effective way to recruit young people for research participation but it is not without its challenges. Gaining access and coordinating many levels of different organisations and stakeholders whose cooperation and approval are crucial all...

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Main Authors: D. S. Epstein, J. C. Enticott, H. J. Larson, C. Barton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2021-05-01
Series:Trials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05288-4
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author D. S. Epstein
J. C. Enticott
H. J. Larson
C. Barton
author_facet D. S. Epstein
J. C. Enticott
H. J. Larson
C. Barton
author_sort D. S. Epstein
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Undertaking recruitment for research in schools is an effective way to recruit young people for research participation but it is not without its challenges. Gaining access and coordinating many levels of different organisations and stakeholders whose cooperation and approval are crucial all add time and sometimes logistical challenges for the research team. In addition, recruiting around sensitive research topics can elicit additional barriers to successful research. The research team aimed to conduct a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial involving schools in a local government region in Victoria, Australia, to assess the effect of a vaccination-based educational card game called “Vaxcards” on vaccine consent returns. Schools were contacted via phone and email to determine which staff member would best be a contact point for a face-to-face meeting to discuss the methods and purpose of the study. Email follow-ups were scheduled to follow up non-responsive schools and consent forms. The minimum required sample size was 13. Of 31 eligible schools, 13 were recruited. The research team encountered several unanticipated challenges before achieving the recruitment target. The most common reasons for non-participation were being too busy with other commitments, concerns regarding the topic of vaccination being too sensitive, and concerns that key stakeholders in the school would not approve of the research topic of vaccination. One school required a review by a private research ethics board that rejected the study. Significant hesitancy and misinformation about vaccine science was observed that affected engagement with a small number of schools. This paper highlights the challenges of recruiting schools in the context of public anxieties about vaccines and has several important learning lessons for successful recruitment about sensitive topics. This includes navigating approval processes for research in schools, the importance of local champions, dealing with misinformation and the importance of strong relationships and organisational trust. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12618001753246 . Prospectively registered on 25 October 2018 8:24:21 AM
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spelling doaj.art-c913165f4064411bb0106b5bc922c1c92022-12-21T21:09:03ZengBMCTrials1745-62152021-05-012211710.1186/s13063-021-05288-4Recruiting for research on sensitive topics in schools: an experience with Vaxcards, a collectable vaccine card gameD. S. Epstein0J. C. Enticott1H. J. Larson2C. Barton3Department of General Practice, Monash UniversityDepartment of General Practice, Monash UniversityThe Vaccine Confidence Project, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineDepartment of General Practice, Monash UniversityAbstract Undertaking recruitment for research in schools is an effective way to recruit young people for research participation but it is not without its challenges. Gaining access and coordinating many levels of different organisations and stakeholders whose cooperation and approval are crucial all add time and sometimes logistical challenges for the research team. In addition, recruiting around sensitive research topics can elicit additional barriers to successful research. The research team aimed to conduct a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial involving schools in a local government region in Victoria, Australia, to assess the effect of a vaccination-based educational card game called “Vaxcards” on vaccine consent returns. Schools were contacted via phone and email to determine which staff member would best be a contact point for a face-to-face meeting to discuss the methods and purpose of the study. Email follow-ups were scheduled to follow up non-responsive schools and consent forms. The minimum required sample size was 13. Of 31 eligible schools, 13 were recruited. The research team encountered several unanticipated challenges before achieving the recruitment target. The most common reasons for non-participation were being too busy with other commitments, concerns regarding the topic of vaccination being too sensitive, and concerns that key stakeholders in the school would not approve of the research topic of vaccination. One school required a review by a private research ethics board that rejected the study. Significant hesitancy and misinformation about vaccine science was observed that affected engagement with a small number of schools. This paper highlights the challenges of recruiting schools in the context of public anxieties about vaccines and has several important learning lessons for successful recruitment about sensitive topics. This includes navigating approval processes for research in schools, the importance of local champions, dealing with misinformation and the importance of strong relationships and organisational trust. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12618001753246 . Prospectively registered on 25 October 2018 8:24:21 AMhttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05288-4Vaccine hesitancyVaccine confidenceVaccine consentVaccinationVaccination rateVaccine schedule
spellingShingle D. S. Epstein
J. C. Enticott
H. J. Larson
C. Barton
Recruiting for research on sensitive topics in schools: an experience with Vaxcards, a collectable vaccine card game
Trials
Vaccine hesitancy
Vaccine confidence
Vaccine consent
Vaccination
Vaccination rate
Vaccine schedule
title Recruiting for research on sensitive topics in schools: an experience with Vaxcards, a collectable vaccine card game
title_full Recruiting for research on sensitive topics in schools: an experience with Vaxcards, a collectable vaccine card game
title_fullStr Recruiting for research on sensitive topics in schools: an experience with Vaxcards, a collectable vaccine card game
title_full_unstemmed Recruiting for research on sensitive topics in schools: an experience with Vaxcards, a collectable vaccine card game
title_short Recruiting for research on sensitive topics in schools: an experience with Vaxcards, a collectable vaccine card game
title_sort recruiting for research on sensitive topics in schools an experience with vaxcards a collectable vaccine card game
topic Vaccine hesitancy
Vaccine confidence
Vaccine consent
Vaccination
Vaccination rate
Vaccine schedule
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05288-4
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