Recruiting older adults for clinical trials

Abstract

More than 400 community-dwelling older adults were recruited into a clinical trial which compared the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment through geriatric assessment with that provided through usual community physician care. Six recruitment methods were utilized: referrals, solicitations, presentations, media, mailings, and fliers. Each method is described and its results reported in terms of numbers recruited, yield, and cost per participant. The most efficient method was referrals; the method producing the largest number was presentations; the least effective method was fliers. Problems and solutions are discussed, and guidelines for recruiting older adults are suggested. These guidelines include: monitoring with accompanying adaptation, targeting the groups most likely to benefit, providing incentives, and reducing uncertainty among potential participants.