Associations between Culturally Relevant Recruitment Strategies and Participant Interest, Enrollment and Generalizability in a Weight-loss Intervention for African American Families

Abstract

Objective: Culturally relevant recruitment strategies may be an important approach for recruiting ethnic minorities for interventions. Previous research has examined associations between recruitment strategies and enrollment of African Americans (AA), but has not explored more deeply the role of incorporating sociocultural values into recruitment strategies. Our current study explores whether sociocultural recruitment mediums were associated with demographics, interest and enrollment in a weight-loss intervention.Method: Sociocultural mediums included community partnerships, culturally relevant ads, sociocultural events, or word-of-mouth. Non-sociocultural mediums included community/school events that did not specifically target AAs. Analyses examined whether demographics of enrolled families differed by recruitment strategy and if recruitment strategy predicted scheduling a baseline visit, enrolling in a run-in phase, and enrolling in the intervention program.Results: Families recruited from culturally relevant ads, sociocultural events, or wordof-mouth were 1.96 times more likely to schedule a baseline visit (OR=1.96, 95% CI=1.05, 3.68) than families recruited from non-sociocultural mediums. No differences were found for sociocultural mediums on enrolling in the run-in phase or the intervention. However, among enrolled families, those recruited from sociocultural mediums were less likely to be employed (X 2 [1, N=142] =5.53, P<.05) and more likely to have lower income (X 2 [1, N=142] =13.57, P<.05). Conclusion:Sociocultural mediums were associated with scheduling a baseline visit, but not enrollment. They were, however, effective in recruiting a more generalizable sample among enrolled participants based on demographic characteristics. Integrating sociocultural values into recruitment methods may be a valuable strategy for increasing interest in participation among underrepresented AA families. Ethn Dis.

Recruiting Filipino Immigrants in a Randomized Controlled Trial Promoting Enrollment in an Evidence-Based Parenting Intervention

“…Another individual level enabling factor was participant altruism. Similar to a previous study among African Americans [27], our study found that participants were interested in participating in research because it may help the Filipino community in general.…”

Community-Engaged Approaches for Minority Recruitment Into Clinical Research: A Scoping Review of the Literature

“…30,58,63e65,76 However, only one study compared the effects of different community engagement approaches on recruitment outcomes, finding that incorporating sociocultural values into recruitment was superior to nonsociocultural strategies and that recruitment through community partnerships led to the highest recruitment of target populations. 40 All of the studies described recruitment efforts; 20 studies described both recruitment and retention of research participants. 26,31e37,41,43,45,48,56e59,61,66,67,74 Minority groups recruited included black or African American (n¼46), 26e31,33,35e41,43e45,49e54,56,57,59e61, 64,68e73,77e80,82e86,89,91 Hispanic or Latino (n¼20), 27,32e35,37,39,42,47,48,58,63,65,67,70,78,80, 81,88,91 Asian (n¼6), 55,74e76,87,90 American Indian or Alaskan Native (n¼3), 32,47,66 and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (n¼2).…”

Associations Between Parenting Factors, Motivation, and Physical Activity in Overweight African American Adolescents

“…Baseline data from 148 African American families participating in the on-going FIT for Weight Loss randomized-controlled trial [20,21] were included in the present study. Sociocultural mediums including community partnerships, community events, and culturally relevant ads were used as recruitment strategies to identify eligible families [66]. Families were eligible to participate if they had an African American adolescent between the ages of 11-16 years old who was overweight or obese (BMI ≥85th percentile for age and sex), a caregiver that was willing to participate, and internet access.…”