Comparative Success of Recruitment Strategies for an Exercise Intervention Trial Among Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Observational Study

Jamie L Benham, Jane E Booth, Christine M Friedenreich, Doreen M Rabi, Ronald J Sigal, Jamie L Benham, Jane E Booth, Christine M Friedenreich, Doreen M Rabi, Ronald J Sigal

Abstract

Background: Effective and efficient participant recruitment is a key determinant of the success of a research program. Previously reported recruitment strategies have displayed variable success rates in studies on women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and cost per participant of the recruitment strategies that we used in a prospective randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of exercise training among inactive women with PCOS, who are aged 18-40 years.

Methods: The 4 recruitment methods we used were as follows: (1) referral by health care providers or by word of mouth, (2) media (eg, local newspaper stories and radio interviews), (3) Facebook advertisements, and (4) unpaid advertisements including posters and websites. The proportions of potential, eligible, and enrolled participants recruited with each method were determined and compared using tests of proportion. The time investment and cost per participant enrolled were calculated for each recruitment strategy.

Results: Of 200 potential participants screened, 98 (49%) were recruited from unpaid advertisements (posters and websites), 70 (35%) from Facebook advertisements, 16 (8%) by referral, and 16 (8%) from traditional media (newspaper and radio). Every potential participant was recruited from separate means (ie, no participant was approached through more than one recruitment method). A total of 109 (54.5%) women were deemed eligible for participation in the trial, and 60 (30.0%) were enrolled. The proportion of potential participants who completed the trial was higher for those recruited from traditional media than from Facebook advertisements (n=7/16, 44% vs n=13/70, 19%, respectively; P=.03) or unpaid advertisements (n=7/16, 44% vs n=13/98, 13%, respectively; P=.002). The cost per participant was Can $18.21 (US $14.46) for Facebook advertisements and Can $43.88 (US $34.85) for unpaid advertisements. There were no direct trial costs for referrals or traditional media.

Conclusions: For this trial, each method was important for recruiting inactive women with PCOS because no participant reported learning about the trial through more than one method. Unpaid advertisements and Facebook advertisements helped recruit the largest number of participants in the trial, the former resulting in a higher cost per participant than the latter.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03362918; https://ichgcp.net/clinical-trials-registry/NCT03362918.

Keywords: aerobic exercise; exercise; exercise training; ovary; polycystic ovary syndrome; recruitment; well-being; women’s health.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

©Jamie L Benham, Jane E Booth, Christine M Friedenreich, Doreen M Rabi, Ronald J Sigal. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 30.03.2021.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Facebook advertisement run in July 2018.

References

    1. Ding T, Hardiman PJ, Petersen I, Wang F, Qu F, Baio G. The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in reproductive-aged women of different ethnicity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Oncotarget. 2017 Nov 10;8(56):96351–96358. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.19180.
    1. Teede HJ, Misso ML, Costello MF, Dokras A, Laven J, Moran L, Piltonen T, Norman RJ, International PCOS Network Recommendations from the international evidence-based guideline for the assessment and management of polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod. 2018 Sep 01;33(9):1602–1618. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dey256.
    1. Legro RS, Arslanian SA, Ehrmann DA, Hoeger KM, Murad MH, Pasquali R, Welt CK, Endocrine Society Diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Dec;98(12):4565–4592. doi: 10.1210/jc.2013-2350.
    1. Atiomo W, Read A, Golding M, Silcocks P, Razali N, Sarkar S, Hardiman P, Thornton J. Local recruitment experience in a study comparing the effectiveness of a low glycaemic index diet with a low calorie healthy eating approach at achieving weight loss and reducing the risk of endometrial cancer in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Contemp Clin Trials. 2009 Sep;30(5):451–456. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2009.05.001.
    1. Vizza L, Smith CA, Swaraj S, Agho K, Cheema BS. The feasibility of progressive resistance training in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a pilot randomized controlled trial. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2016;8:14. doi: 10.1186/s13102-016-0039-8.
    1. Pastore LM, Dalal P. Recruitment strategies for an acupuncture randomized clinical trial of reproductive age women. Complement Ther Med. 2009 Aug;17(4):229–235. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2009.03.004.
    1. Ee C, Smith C, Costello M, MacMillan F, Moran L, Baylock B, Teede H. Feasibility and acceptability of a proposed trial of acupuncture as an adjunct to lifestyle interventions for weight loss in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a qualitative study. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018 Nov 08;18(1):298. doi: 10.1186/s12906-018-2358-7.
    1. Benham Jamie L, Booth Jane E, Corenblum Bernard, Doucette Steve, Friedenreich Christine M, Rabi Doreen M, Sigal Ronald J. Exercise Training and Reproductive Outcomes in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2021 Feb 27; doi: 10.1111/cen.14452.
    1. Advertising Policies. Facebook. [2020-09-20]. .
    1. University of Calgary Research Services Office. Canada: University of Calgary; 2019. Dec 31, Participate in Research at UCalgary.
    1. Papers and Studies. University of Calgary. [2020-10-13]. .
    1. . NIH: U.S. National Library of Medicine. [2021-03-12]. .
    1. Whitaker C, Stevelink S, Fear N. The Use of Facebook in Recruiting Participants for Health Research Purposes: A Systematic Review. J Med Internet Res. 2017 Aug 28;19(8):e290. doi: 10.2196/jmir.7071.
    1. Kitzinger C, Willmott J. 'The thief of womanhood': women's experience of polycystic ovarian syndrome. Soc Sci Med. 2002 Feb;54(3):349–361. doi: 10.1016/s0277-9536(01)00034-x.

Source: PubMed

赞助者和合作者

医疗条件

药物干预

3
订阅