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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Nov;45(Pt B):196-200.
doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2015.09.010. Epub 2015 Sep 18.

Recruitment strategies in two reproductive medicine network infertility trials

Rebecca S Usadi  1 , Michael P Diamond  2 , Richard S Legro  3 , William D Schlaff  4 , Karl R Hansen  5 , Peter Casson  6 , Gregory Christman  7 , G Wright Bates  8 , Valerie Baker  9 , Aimee Seungdamrong  10 , Mitchell P Rosen  11 , Scott Lucidi  12 , Tracey Thomas  13 , Hao Huang  14 , Nanette Santoro  15 , Esther Eisenberg  16 , Heping Zhang  14 , Ruben Alvero  15 ; Reproductive Medicine Network
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Recruitment strategies in two reproductive medicine network infertility trials

Rebecca S Usadi et al. Contemp Clin Trials. 2015 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Recruitment of individuals into clinical trials is a critical step in completing studies. Reports examining the effectiveness of different recruitment strategies, and specifically in infertile couples, are limited.

Methods: We investigated recruitment methods used in two NIH sponsored trials, Pregnancy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PPCOS II) and Assessment of Multiple Intrauterine Gestations from Ovarian Stimulation (AMIGOS), and examined which strategies yielded the greatest number of participants completing the trials.

Results: 3683 couples were eligible for screening. 1650 participants were randomized and 1339 completed the trials. 750 women were randomized in PPCOS II; 212 of the participants who completed the trial were referred by physicians. Participants recruited from radio ads (84/750) and the internet (81/750) resulted in similar rates of trial completion in PPCOS II. 900 participants were randomized in AMIGOS. 440 participants who completed the trial were referred to the study by physicians. The next most successful method in AMIGOS was the use of the internet, achieving 78 completed participants. Radio ads proved the most successful strategy in both trials for participants who earned <$50,000 annually. Radio ads were most successful in enrolling white patients in PPCOS II and black patients in AMIGOS. Seven ancillary Clinical Research Scientist Training (CREST) sites enrolled 324 of the participants who completed the trials.

Conclusions: Physician referral was the most successful recruitment strategy. Radio ads and the internet were the next most successful strategies, particularly for women of limited income. Ancillary clinical sites were important for overall recruitment.

Keywords: Clinical trial; Recruitment; Subjects.

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