| The trials and tribulations of enrolling couples in a randomized, controlled trial: A self-management program for hyperlipidemia as a model. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 20599337 Owner: NLM Status: In-Data-Review |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
OBJECTIVE: Capitalizing on spousal support may enhance the effectiveness of interventions for chronic disease management. However, couples-based interventions present logistical challenges. We describe our experience and lessons learned while recruiting couples into the Couples Partnering for Lipid-Enhancing Strategies (CouPLES) trial. METHODS: This trial seeks to reduce serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels using a couples-based intervention designed to help patients engage in self-management behaviors. We proposed enrolling 250 couples over 13 months. RESULTS: Due to practical challenges that we encountered, recruitment and enrollment lasted 21 months. Those challenges included: travel to study site; effectively marketing the study; participant burden; and establishing eligibility criteria. By modifying our protocol to address these challenges, the recruitment rate increased from 12 to 33%. CONCLUSION: In the absence of trials identifying the most effective recruitment strategies, investigators may need to experiment, amending their protocol intermittently until target enrollment numbers are reached. The lessons we present may help researchers conducting couples-based interventions develop more effective protocols. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: To achieve target enrollment numbers, researchers conducting couples-based interventions should consider minimizing travel to the study site; carefully crafting recruitment materials; budgeting more for participant incentives and staff effort; and limiting exclusion criteria. These practices may also enhance retention. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Corrine I Voils; William S Yancy; Morris Weinberger; Jamiyla Bolton; Cynthia J Coffman; Amy Jeffreys; Eugene Z Oddone; Hayden B Bosworth |
Related Documents
:
|
16138497 - Three clinical problems: weird thyroid function tests, difficult gout, and dementia. 12745007 - Escher and the ophthalmologist. 19909527 - Assessment of human resources management practices in lebanese hospitals. 11877867 - Spondylolisthesis in the athlete. 18399437 - Dissipation of insect growth regulators in fresh orange and orange juice. 2257397 - Orthopaedic negligence: the tip of the iceberg? |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article Date: 2010-07-05 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Patient education and counseling Volume: 84 ISSN: 1873-5134 ISO Abbreviation: Patient Educ Couns Publication Date: 2011 Jul |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2011-06-13 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 8406280 Medline TA: Patient Educ Couns Country: Ireland |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 33-40 Citation Subset: N |
Copyright Information:
|
Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. |
Affiliation:
|
Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, USA; Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
|
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Calcium scoring with prospectively ECG-triggered CT: Using overlapping datasets generated with MPR d...
Next Document: An investigation into the empowerment effects of using online support groups and how this affects he...