Methodology and challenges to recruitment to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of oral DHEA in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective: To report on the issues encountered in the recruitment of healthy naturally menopausal women in the community to a randomized placebo-controlled trial of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) therapy for treatment of loss of sexual desire.

Methods: Recruitment of women was achieved by advertising and media publicity. We have reported on the method by which women initially contacted us and the reasons for nonparticipation.

Results: Nine hundred and eighteen women contacted us about participating in the study; 706 of these were telephoned screened, and 93 of these (10%) women were randomized to therapy. The main determinants for nonparticipation included ineligibility on phone screening (58%), withdrawal of interest either before or after screening (55%), and preexisting pathology after attending for screening (8%).

Conclusions: Despite ongoing interest by women to participate in research for therapies to treat low libido, concerns about the use of any hormonal treatment and the time poverty experienced by many women at midlife present new barriers to recruitment and need to be considered in assessing the feasibility of studies in this field.