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. 2021;44(sup1):S240-S249.
doi: 10.1080/10790268.2021.1970898.

Central Recruitment: A process for engaging and recruiting individuals with spinal cord injury/disease in research at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute

B Catharine Craven  1   2   3 , Louise Brisbois  1 , Chelsea Pelletier  1   4 , Julia Rybkina  1   3 , Ann Heesters  5   6 , Mary Caroline Verrier  1   3   4
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Central Recruitment: A process for engaging and recruiting individuals with spinal cord injury/disease in research at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute

B Catharine Craven et al. J Spinal Cord Med. 2021.

Abstract

Context: Insufficient recruitment is a barrier to research and limits statistical power. We describe an initiative aimed to streamline recruitment and consent processes for inpatients with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) via implementation of a Central Recruitment (CR) process. The CR process adhered to ethical standards, reduced participant burden, and maximized research participation.

Methods: In this CR process, the inpatient's nurse affirmed suitability for research approach based on fluency, cognition and health stability. A patient research liaison (PRL) was the sole contact for information regarding the research process, and introduced ongoing studies, screened for eligibility, and completed the consent process(es).

Results: Over five and a half years, 1,561 inpatients with SCI/D were screened for eligibility upon admission, of whom 80% (1256/1561) were deemed suitable for the PRL approach. Of those suitable for the CR process, 80% (1001/1256) agreed to discuss current research opportunities, 46% (235/516) consented to participate in one or more studies, and 86% (856/1001) agreed to future research contact.

Conclusion: This process adhered to ethical procedures and reduced the burden of having multiple researchers approach each individual inpatient regarding research participation, with high consent rates for low-risk studies. Future evaluation of the process scalability is underway.

Keywords: Ethics; Organizational efficiency; Patient recruitment; Rehabilitation research; Spinal cord injuries.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patient centered model.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Research Interest Form (RIF) used for new inpatient screening.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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