Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Oct 22, 2020
Date Accepted: Feb 25, 2021
Comparative Success of Recruitment Strategies for an Exercise Intervention Trial in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
ABSTRACT
Background:
We conducted a prospective, randomized trial examining the effects of exercise training in inactive women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) aged 18-40.
Objective:
We report here on the comparative success of the recruitment strategies we used.
Methods:
The four recruitment methods employed were: 1) referral by healthcare providers or word-of-mouth, 2) local newspaper stories and radio interviews, 3) Facebook advertisements, and 4) unpaid advertisements including posters and websites. Proportions of potential, eligible and enrolled participants recruited by each method were determined.
Results:
Of 200 potential participants screened, 98 (49%) were recruited using unpaid advertisements (posters and websites), 70 (35%) from Facebook advertisements, 16 (8%) by referral and 16 (8%) through traditional media (newspaper and radio). Every potential participant was recruited by separate means (i.e. no participant was reached through more than one recruitment method). A total of 109 (54.5%) women were eligible for trial participation and 60 (30.0%) were enrolled. The proportion of potential participants who completed the trial was higher for those recruited through traditional media than Facebook advertisements (44% vs. 19%; P=.03) or unpaid advertisements (44% vs. 13%; P=.002). The cost per participant was $18.21 CAD for Facebook and $43.88 CAD for unpaid advertisements. There were no direct trial costs for referrals or traditional media.
Conclusions:
For this trial, each recruitment method was important in recruiting inactive women with PCOS as no participant reported learning about the trial by more than one method. Unpaid advertisements and Facebook advertisements resulted in the greatest numbers of participants enrolled. The cost per participant was lower for Facebook advertisements than unpaid advertisements. Clinical Trial: NCT03362918
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