Table 1 Retention strategy themes [4, 5]
From: Participant retention practices in longitudinal clinical research studies with high retention rates
Strategies | Definition |
|---|---|
Community Involvement | Involve community in study design, recruitment, and retention |
Study Identity | Create a study identity (e.g. study logo and/or using similar colors and fonts on all study materials) |
Study Personnel | Characteristics, training, and management of study personnel |
Study Description | Explain study requirements and details, including potential benefits and risks to study participants |
Contact and Scheduling Methods | Use of a systematic method for patient contact, appointment scheduling, and cohort retention monitoring |
Reminders | Provide reminders about appointments and study participation |
Visit Characteristics | Minimize participant burden through characteristics and procedures of follow-up study clinic |
Benefits of Study | Provide benefits to participants and families that are directly related to the nature of the study |
Financial Incentives | Provide financial incentives or payment |
Reimbursements | Provide reimbursement for research-related expenses or tangible support to facilitate participation |
Non-financial Incentives | Tokens of appreciation |
Special Tracking Methods | Methods of tracking or dealing with hard-to-find participants |