Table 5 Recruitment planning and implementation (Quality Metric categories)
From: Recruiting participants to walking intervention studies: a systematic review
Study Author (Year) | No. Of Methods Used | Procedures including who conducted the recruitment, where it took place and what was done | Active, passive or a mixture of approaches | Quality Metric Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
l. Watson et al, 2005 | 1 | Nurse conducted face to face recruitment at clinics, mothers' group meetings and home visits. | Active | 5 |
2. Banks-Wallace et al, 2004 | 4 | Researchers placed flyers in church bulletins and the community, health practitioner referrals were generated, word of mouth was used and structured pre-intervention meetings took place. | Passive/Active | 4 |
3. Kolt et al, 2006 | 1 | A three phased and sequenced approach was conducted by the researchers, the GP and staff nurse. An invitation letter was sent from the GP surgery a pre-paid response card for those expressing interest. Follow up screening calls then follow up visits to provide info and gain consent. | Passive/Active | 4 |
4. Nguyen et al, 2002 | 3 | A public health official co-ordinated the recruitment and used the local media, network construction and face to face recruitment of volunteer walk leaders. Press conferences and promotional materials were sent to local media outlets, community health centres, libraries, senior's club networks to promote the club. Leaflets on local community settings, ads in free newspapers, promotional messages placed on light panels around the city, community TV ads and features, press releases for local media, newsletters, press conference, celebration events. Comments elsewhere stated that face to face recruitment was the most successful for this study, but this was only used to recruit walk leaders. | Passive/Active | 4 |
5. Prestwich et al, 2010 | 1 | Researchers sent emails to the current students at their university. Course credit or cash were used as an incentive. | Passive | 4 |
6. Rowland et al, 2004 | 11 | Computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI) was initially conducted by researchers. A database of potential participants was screened for telephone numbers. If this was not successful in recruiting the sample size needed the direct mailing was used. Finally, to complete the sample size quota canvassing in the local community (including face to face, door to door, posters and flyers at churches and senior housing units, snowballing, utilising 'community brokers', and newspapers) was conducted. Recruitment was systematic, purposeful and carried out in the order described but was somewhat inequitable as the first screening criterion was the availability of a phone number. It also required significant community assistance to reach those harder to engage. | Active/Passive | 4 |
7. Sherman et al, 2006 | 2 | Active recruitment by a nurse at a health clinic, advertisements in hair salons and food establishments. The paper states that the 'main source of recruitment came from advertisements in the community and word of mouth'. | Active/Passive | 4 |
8. Wilbur et al, 2006 | 3 | Researchers designed a flyer with community input and received advice on where to place it. Emails and newspaper announcements were also used. Recruitment staff distributed print material at specified schools, churches, grocery shops, libraries, clinics, community agencies and community fairs and at 10 presentations in community agencies, clinics, and churches. Email announcement at local medical centre workplaces and an announcement in the community newspaper were used. A good aim of matching the invitation to the invitee and finding the best place to distribute it was a positive here. Unfortunately word of mouth wasn't actively used or reported and only the research team recruitment staff acted as recruiters for face to face recruitment. | Passive/Active | 4 |
9. Baker et al, 2008b | 4 | Mail drops were carried out and adverts were placed in local papers and posters in GP surgeries and shops. Manned community stalls were also set up. This approach was modified and expanded throughout the recruitment phase as the researchers identified their lack of impact on the target group. However, the methods were mainly passive and not altered to be more engaging or mediating with the target group. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive/Active | 3 |
10. Brownson et al 2005 | 8 | Recruitment was initially by proxy during a baseline survey for another piece of work (no details or what survey was). Awareness of the walking group was also promoted at community events, by physician recommendation, trail signage advertising and word or mouth. Recruitment methods were not explicitly reported but intervention communities used participatory approaches to develop their intervention options. Taster events, one off walks, clean up trail days, and 5 media events were held. | Passive/Active | 3 |
11. Cox et al, 2008 | 1 | Research assistants placed advertisements in the local community. | Passive | 3 |
12. Dinger et al, 2007 | 3 | Flyers were placed in the community, emails were sent to university staff and a television advertisement was broadcast. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 3 |
13. Dubbert et al, 2002 | 1 | A three phased sequenced approach was used. Researchers and a research nurse reviewed medical records. Potential participants were sent a letter and recruited during their scheduled visits with the primary health care providers or following an expression of interest. Nurses conducted a pre screening and financial compensation to offset costs of visits to the centre was provided. | Active/Passive | 3 |
14. Dubbert et al, 2008 | 1 | Participants were recruited via referral by primary care providers, but which specific type of care provider was not reported. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 3 |
15. Gilson et al, 2008 | 1 | Researchers recruited participants via workplace email. | Passive | 3 |
16. Jancey et al, 2008 | 1 | A two phased sequenced approach was used. Researchers marched electoral roll lists against telephone directory lists to identify potential participants who owned phones. A preceding postcard informing the recruit about the study and the likelihood of a phone call to follow. Phone calls were then made by members of the research team and approximately 9 calls were required to recruit one participant. | Passive/Active | 3 |
17. Lamb et al, 2002 | 1 | A three phased sequenced approach was used. Researchers, assisted by staff nurses sent an eligibility questionnaire to a randomly selected group from a GP client list (GP letters included). This was followed by a letter explaining the study to those expressing an interest and then a phone call to the responders to arrange which info session they could attend. | Passive/Active | 3 |
18. Lee et al, 1997 | 4 | Researchers and trained female students conducted telephone calls, face to face approaches at supermarkets, direct mailing and flyers. | Passive/Active | 3 |
19. Matthews et al, 2007 | 3 | Clinical staff recruited women by letter and phone follow up in two health centres. The paper also states that in another centre clinical populations were recruited, but this is not clearly explained. Women who were also past participants in a case control study and had agreed to take part in future research. | Active/Passive | 3 |
20. Merom et al, 2007 | 3 | Invitation by proxy during the NSW phone Health Survey. Researchers in this study then produced a community based newspaper and sent intranet messages in the area health services (it is not clear what they meant by that). | Passive | 3 |
21. Ornes and Ransdell, 2007 | 4 | Researchers placed newspaper ads and posters on a university campus. Researcher also visited classes on college campus and conducted face to face recruitment on campus. | Passive/Active | 3 |
22. Richardson et al, 2007 | 3 | Researchers placed adverts in a local newspaper and flyers at local hospital, clinics, and other public locations. A listing was placed on a medical research recruitment site. Information and water bottles were given to potential participants and doctors to raise the profile of the study and encourage referrals from doctors. | Passive | 3 |
23. Rosenberg et al, 2009 | 2 | Researchers used flyers and information meetings. | Passive/Active | 3 |
24. Whitt-Glover et al, 2008 | 5 | Pastors who attended luncheons regarding health promotion and disease prevention strategies among African Americans were recruited to help introduce the intervention and aid recruitment of participants. Following this, researchers placed flyers in churches, bulletins in newsletters, announcements at Sunday services and held information meetings. | Active/Passive | 3 |
25. Arbour & Ginis, 2009 | 2 | Posters and internet ads were sent as part of an employee health programme. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 2 |
26. Culos-Reed et al, 2008 | 4 | Posters, cards on food hall tables and two community newspapers were used to circulate information. Three presentations were held at local health programme meetings. It is not stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive/Active | 2 |
27. Currie and Develin, 2001 | 4 | Flyers were placed at the local maternity wards, doctors' surgeries, early childhood centres, day care centres, immunization clinics, baby product stores and playgrounds. Adverts placed in school bulletins; local newspapers and also paid adverts in newspapers. Information sessions were conducted for new mothers in childhood centres. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive/Active | 2 |
28. Darker et al, 2010 | 2 | Adverts were placed in local newspapers. Radio interviews were conducted. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 2 |
29. De Cocker et al 2007 | 3 | Telephone calls and postal mail invites to 2500 randomly selected members of the registered population. A multi-media campaign was carried out to raise awareness of the programme. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Active/Passive | 2 |
30. Dinger et al, 2005 | 2 | Emails were sent to university staff and adverts were placed on the University television station. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 2 |
31. Engel and Lindner, 2006 | 1 | A 'local Media campaign' was conducted. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 2 |
32. Foreman et al, 2001 | 2 | This qualitative paper did not clearly describe the processes behind their recruitment approach. It emphasises the need for the walk leaders and organisers to become actively engaged in the process and how interpersonal approaches are highly necessary and more effective in engaging a broader range of participants or specific target groups. | Active/Passive | 2 |
33. Humpel et al, 2004 | 1 | Letters were sent to individuals listed in an insurance company client list, with follow up letters to non-responders. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 2 |
34. Nies et al, 2006 | 2 | Flyers were placed in the local community and the programme was promoted on the radio. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 2 |
35. Purath et al, 2004 | 1 | Participants were recruited at annual workplace health screenings. May have been pre-notified but this isn't stated. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Active | 2 |
36. Shaw et al, 2007 | 4 | The study was promoted via workplace intranet, staff newsletter and flyers. Emails were sent to managers of departments to be forwarded to staff. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 2 |
37. Sidman et al, 2004 | 1 | Flyers were posted on two University campuses. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 2 |
38. Thomas and Williams, 2006 | 1 | Emails were distributed in the workplace. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 2 |
39. Tudor-Locke et al, 2002 | 1 | Recruited at/after an diabetes education session. Convenience sample, first come first serve. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Active | 2 |
40. Baker et al, 2008a | 3 | Posters and newsletters were placed on a University campus. Emails were sent to University staff. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 1 |
41. Hultquist et al, 2005 | 2 | Flyers were placed on a University campus and in the surrounding area. The study was publicised in a local newsletter. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 1 |
42. Lomabrd et al, 1995 | 2 | Newspaper advertisements and flyers were posted on campus at a University. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 1 |
43. DNSWH, 2002 | 4 | Flyers distributed via letter box drop. Use of a 'feature' newspaper article. Information sent to local community groups (e.g. Rotary and Lions), schools, preschools, playgroups, community nurses, doctors' surgeries, local rugby club, and local business (e.g. chemists' shops, real estate agents, car dealerships). Poster and flyers placed in parks, at bus stops, local streets, shops, libraries and other public facilities. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 1 |
44. Rovniak, 2005 | 5 | The methods are reported as: the use of local list-servs for direct mailing; churches; a news brief on a local radio and television station, a university newspaper article, and flyers. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive | 1 |
45. Rowley et al, 2007 | Unclear | The paper reports only the following details regarding recruitment: 'There was an enthusiastic response from invited mothers and many requests to join from other who had heard about the programme through local publicity and word of mouth'. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive/Active | 1 |
46. Talbot et al, 2003 | 2 | Participants were recruited through senior centres and advertisements in local newspapers. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Passive/Active | 1 |
47. Wyatt et al, 2004 | 1 | Word of mouth at a 'kick start' session. It is not specifically stated who conducted the recruitment. | Active | 1 |