Abstract
Efficient and appropriate recruitment and retention of study participants is essential to collecting valid data for rigorous quality of life research for America’s aging population. Recruitment and retention of racially/ethnically diverse, physically ill older adults to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) can be particularly challenging. This paper will identify socio-demographic, clinical, behavioral, and attitudinal factors that affected recruitment and retention of black and Latino post-stroke patients with uncontrolled hypertension to an RCT that tested the effectiveness of a three-month nurse practitioner and health coach intervention to reduce patients’ systolic blood pressure and related risk of recurrent stroke. This paper will also showcase the dynamic, sometimes unconventional methods employed to address recruitment/retention barriers. Data were drawn from a population of 5858 potentially eligible study participants, of whom 495 (8.4%) enrolled in the RCT (345 black and 150 Latino individuals). Data were collected during an initial telephone screen, an enrollment interview (baseline), a 3-month follow-up interview, and a 12-month follow-up interview. Over 30% of the potentially eligible patients agreed to participate after the telephone screen and, among the 495 enrolled participants, high retention rates were achieved at both the 3-month (87%) and 12-month (81%) follow-up interviews. Participants were equally likely to complete the 3- and 12-month follow-up interviews whether they were in a control or treatment group. Successful recruitment and retention strategies were those that were flexible to the participant’s individual needs, culturally tailored to the target population, and implemented by a well-trained workforce. Implications for future studies will be discussed.