Determining call-to-entry rate and recruitment barriers in clinical studies for community clinics serving low-income populations: a cohort study.

Vaughan EM, Virani S, Al Rifai M, Cardenas VJ, Johnston CA, Porterfield L, Santiago Delgado Z, Samson SL, Schick V, Naik AD. Determining call-to-entry rate and recruitment barriers in clinical studies for community clinics serving low-income populations: a cohort study. BMJ open. 2023 Oct 28; 13(10):e077819.

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Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Recruitment for clinical studies is challenging. To overcome barriers, investigators have previously established call-to-entry rates to assist in planning. However, rates specific to low-income minority populations are needed to account for additional barriers to enrolment these individuals face. OBJECTIVE: To obtain a call-to-entry rate in a low-income uninsured Hispanic population with chronic disease. METHODS: We used data from four of our randomised clinical studies to determine the call-to-entry rate for individuals (n = 1075) with or at risk for type 2 diabetes: participants needed/potential participants contacted = recruitment rate (yield). Research staff contacted potential participants to enrol in a study that evaluated 6 month diabetes programmes at community clinics from 2015 to 2020. We recorded call-to-entry rates, reasons for declining the study, show rates, and attrition. RESULTS: The call-to-entry rate was 14.5%. Forty per cent of potential participants could not be contacted, and 30.6%, 19.1%, and 5.4% responded , , and , respectively. No show percentages were 54% for and 91.4% for responders. The majority (61.6%) declined due to inability to attend; reasons to decline included work (43%), eligibility (18%), transportation (10%), out of town (9%), did not think they needed the programme (7%) and other/unknown (14%). Being a physician predicted inability to reach participants (adjusted OR 2.91, 95% CI 1.73 to 4.90). Attrition was 6.8%. CONCLUSIONS: We described a call-to-entry rate and detailed recruitment data, including reasons to decline the study. This valuable information can assist investigators in study planning and overcoming enrolment barriers in low-income populations. Telehealth-based or strategies that limit transportation needs may increase participant involvement. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03394456.