The impact of a new recruitment strategy to improve recruitment of participants to research studies

Abstract

Introduction and Background: Historically, respiratory research recruitment in Leicester has been inefficient; driven manually through clinics, word-of-mouth, advertisements and participant lists. To improve this, we implemented a new recruitment strategy, in line with local and national guidelines. Aims and Objectives: To determine how a new recruitment strategy affected patient recruitment in a respiratory research group. Methods: A recruitment strategy was created requiring patient consent, followed by entry of basic clinical details onto an ethically approved recruitment database. Staff training was provided and weekly recruitment meetings held. Data analysis was undertaken using qualitative staff and nurse surveys, and data/access logs recorded in the recruitment database. Results: Our analysis indicated that the new strategy and database streamlined the recruitment process. Not only by creating a steadily increasing pool of patients available for contact (Figure 1), but saving nurse time and allowing nurses to record/access clinical research data to confirm eligibility for studies. Additionally, it prevented patient re-contact and enabled more targeted recruitment. Conclusion: The implementation of a new strategy underpinned by an ethically approved recruitment database has become central to recruitment and identification of potentially eligible research participants.