Recruiting African American Churches to Participate in Research

Abstract

Physical activity among African Americans (AA) is low; effective intervention strategies are needed. Community-based settings are useful for delivering health-related interventions in racial/ethnic minority communities. This article describes strategies used to recruit churches for participation in a 22-month intervention designed to increase physical activity levels in AA women. Initial recruitment efforts, led by AA study staff, included direct mailers, phone calls, and in-person meetings with church representatives. After 10 months, only five churches were enrolled. Seven community members with existing partnerships/contacts in the faith community were subsequently hired and an additional 26 churches were enrolled within 6 months. Overall response rate was 45%, and churches required 3.5 ± 3.0 months of multiple contacts prior to enrollment. The main primary contacts within churches were individuals with personal interest in the program and pastors. Prior relationship between the research team and churches did not appear to influence church enrollment as much as community member recruiters. The current study identifies several potential strategies that may be useful for increasing success in efforts to recruit AA churches into studies. Additional research is warranted that tests and compares a variety of recruitment strategies to determine the most successful strategies for recruitment in different populations.

Increasing Physical Activity in Black Women: Results from a Randomized Trial Conducted in Faith-Based Settings

“…A previously published paper described the process for recruiting and enrolling churches, and participants within churches, into the study. 24 Eligible churches were those that self-identified themselves with congregations that were predominantly African American. Thirty-one churches, representing 30 sites (two churches were combined) were recruited and randomized into the L.A.D.I.E.S.…”

Learning and Developing Individual Exercise Skills (L.A.D.I.E.S.) for a Better Life: A Church-Based Physical Activity Intervention - Baseline Participant Characteristics

“…Churches required, on average, 3.5 ± 3.0 months of multiple contacts prior to enrollment (range 0 -9 months). 21 During recruitment, 603 women completed pre-screen questionnaires indicating interest in the study; 469 (78%) enrolled in the study (Figure 1). Complete baseline data were available for 417 women (89%), including 151 randomized to the faith-based (n= 10 churches), 140 randomized to the secular (n=10 churches), and 126 randomized to the control (n=10 churches) conditions.…”

“…21 Eligible churches self-identified as predominantly serving African American congregants and were willing to accept randomization to either of the three programs. Eligible participants were: 1) female, African American, regular attendees at the church being recruited; 2) aged > 18 years; 3) self-reported low active (ie, achieving < 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity); 4) no physical limitations or medical conditions that would be impacted by physical activity; and 5) no plans to move from the area within a two-year period.…”

Four Methods of Recruiting Couples Into a Longitudinal Study of Physical Activity in People With Osteoarthritis: Recruitment, Retention, and Lessons Learned

“…Although we had such relationships with some community partners, we had not established them with the church network. Moreover, past research has found that church-based recruitment of African Americans is more successful when recruiters are native to the community and involved with community churches beyond research activities ( 33 ). Therefore, we recommend using community-based participatory research methods to build relationships and ensuring that recruitment staff reflect the diversity of the priority population.…”