Facilitators and barriers to successful recruitment into a large comparative effectiveness trial: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Recruitment of participants into research studies, especially individuals from minority groups, is challenging; lack of diversity may lead to biased findings. Aim: To explore beliefs about research participation among individuals who were approached and eligible for the GRADE study. Methods: In-depth qualitative telephone interviews with randomized participants (n = 25) and eligible individuals who declined to enroll (n = 26). Results: Refusers and consenters differed in trust and perceptions of risk, benefits and burden of participation. Few participants understood how comparative effectiveness research differed from other types of trials; however, some features of comparative effectiveness research were perceived as lower risk. Conclusion: We identified facilitators and addressable barriers to participation in research studies.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01794143.

Keywords: comparative effectiveness research; qualitative research; recruitment.

Conflict of interest statement

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This research project was funded by the Empire Clinical Researcher and Investigator Program (ECRIP) of New York State. Incentives were supported by internal funds of Montefiore Medical Center. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1.. Factors influencing decision to participate in research.