Recruitment and Retention of Stroke Survivors: The CAReS Experience

Abstract

Recruiting participants with chronic disabling conditions into research studies is a complex process, involving consideration of the rigors of Institutional Review Board requirements, complexities of the recruiting site and sensitivity to the needs of elderly participants. Retaining such participants is achieved by careful recruitment that ensures that participants match the established criteria, understand the study, and are committed to long-term participation-as well as by minimizing the burden as much as possible on the participants and making them feel an important part of a worthwhile effort throughout the duration of the study. This article reviews the recruitment process and reports strategies used in recruiting and retaining elderly subjects for the CAReS Research Study, an interdisciplinary, randomized intervention research study for stroke survivors and their spousal caregivers. Implications for occupational therapy are addressed.