Evidence Library

Abstract:

Aim: To carry out a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate a community-based workbook-journal for improving the well-being of women with breast cancer in isolated rural areas.

Method: Breast cancer survivors formed a partnership with academic researchers to develop and evaluate the workbook-journal. Community partners took the lead in developing the recruitment procedure, recruiting participants, conducting assessments and designing strategies to reduce women's fears about participating in a clinical trial.

Findings/recommendations: The community-focused recruitment model resulted in an 83% recruitment rate and 98% retention. The authors comment: 'Our rate of recruitment and retention in this pilot is unparalleled in medical research and is even remarkable for psychosocial interventions.' They attribute their success to:

• making good use of the insights and experience of community partners
• allowing and budgeting for several meeting between recruiters and potential participants
• the high skill level of the community recruiters
• the endorsement of the study by the community.

The authors conclude that barriers to recruitment can be minimised by involving community members in the design of recruitment, consent and measurement procedures. It is also important for researchers to be open to novel methods for approaching and assessing potential participants, whose culture and level of trust may be different from the people they usually work with.

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Related entry: none currently available

Categories: health
Undertaking research
impact on research
impact of public involvement
journal article
Recruitment

Date Entered: 2009/01/27

Date Edited: 2012/11/20