Recruiting Latino and Non-Latino Families in Pediatric Research: Considerations from a Study on Childhood Disability

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To improve representation of minorities in research, we examined recruitment methods from our study of Latino and non-Latino families of children with Intellectual Disability (ID). METHOD: We compared recruitment strategies that yielded the enrollment target of 200 matched Latino and nonLatino families of children with ID and controls. Active recruitment strategies involved direct contact with potential participants; passive strategies included disseminating study information. RESULTS: Effective outreach focused on community agencies where children had ongoing involvement and utilizing bilingual/bicultural staff. Latino families were significantly more likely to be recruited by an active strategy than non-Latino families. Active and passive strategies were both effective with non-Latino ID families. Asking research participants to inform other families about the study and sharing consent to contact lists with other investigators was productive with control families. CONCLUSIONS: Bilingual staff and active recruitment through familiar community services were successful in recruiting Latino families for research.