Principles of recruitment and retention in clinical trials

• Published in: International journal of nursing practice Vol. 9; no. 6; pp. 338 - 346
• Main Authors: Aitken, Leanne, Gallagher, Robyn, Madronio, Christine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Science Pty 01-12-2003; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Advertising as Topic - methods; Attitude to Health; Australia; Clinical trials; Clinical Trials as Topic - ethics; Clinical Trials as Topic - legislation & jurisprudence; Clinical Trials as Topic - psychology; Clinical Trials as Topic - standards; Confidentiality - ethics; Confidentiality - legislation & jurisprudence; Correspondence as Topic; Ethics; Guidelines as Topic; Human Experimentation - ethics; Human Experimentation - legislation & jurisprudence; Human Experimentation - standards; Humans; Motivation; Nursing; patient selection; Patient Selection - ethics; Patients; Principle-Based Ethics; Privacy; Privacy - legislation & jurisprudence; Recruitment; Registries; research design; Research Design - legislation & jurisprudence; Research Design - standards; Retention; Sample Size; Selection Bias; Telephone; Australia
• ISSN: 1322-7114; 1440-172X
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-172X.2003.00449.x

Efficient and effective recruitment and retention of participants is the largest single component of the study workload and forms an essential component in the conduct of clinical trials. In this paper, we present five principles to guide the processes of both recruitment and retention. These principles include the selection of an appropriate population to adequately answer the research question, followed by the establishment of a sampling process that accurately represents that population. Creation of systematic and effective recruitment mechanisms should be supported by implementation of follow‐up mechanisms that promote participant retention. Finally, all activities related to recruitment and retention must be conducted within the framework of ethics and privacy regulations. Adherence to these principles will assist the researcher in achieving the goals of the study within the available resources.