Effective and resource-efficient strategies for recruiting families in physical activity, sedentary behavior, nutrition, and obesity prevention research: A systematic review with expert opinion.
Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity 2020
Guagliano JM, Morton KL, Hughes C, van Sluijs EMF
DOI : 10.1111/obr.13161
PubMed ID : 33331106
PMCID :
URL : https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/obr.13161
Abstract
We systematically identified effective and resource-efficient strategies for recruiting families into health promoting intervention research. Four databases were searched for reviews. Interventions were extracted from included reviews. Additionally, a Delphi study was conducted with 35 experts in family-based research. We assessed extracted data from our review and Delphi participants' opinions by collating responses into overarching themes based on recruitment setting then recruitment strategies to identify effective and resource-efficient strategies for recruiting families into intervention research. A total of 64 articles (n = 49 studies) were included. Data regarding recruitment duration (33%), target sample size (32%), reach (18%), expressions of interest (33%), and enrollment rate (22%) were scarcely reported. Recruitment settings (84%) and strategies (73%) used were available for most studies. However, the details were vague, particularly regarding who was responsible for recruitment or how recruitment strategies were implemented. The Delphi showed recruitment settings, and strategies fell under six themes: school-based, print/electronic media, community settings-based, primary care-based, employer-based, and referral-based strategies. Underrecruitment in family-based trials is a major issue. Reporting on recruitment can be improved by better adherence to existing guidelines. Our findings suggest a multifaceted recruitment approach targeting adults and children with multiple exposures to study information.
Lay Summary
The recruitment of families into interventions is particularly challenging, but there has not been a comprehensive assessment of the strategies used to do so. In this study we systematically reviewed the literature and solicited experts’ opinions to identify effective and resource-efficient strategies for recruiting families into physical activity, sedentary behaviour, diet, and obesity prevention intervention research. Our findings showed that data regarding recruitment duration, target sample size, reach, expressions of interest, and enrolment rate were scarcely reported. Recruitment settings and strategies used were reported in most studies. However, the details were vague, particularly regarding who was responsible for recruitment or how recruitment strategies were implemented. Findings from the experts showed recruitment settings and strategies fell under 6 themes: school-based, print/electronic media, community settings-based, primary care-based, employer-based, and referral-based strategies. Under-recruitment in family-based trials is a major issue and, overall, reporting related to recruitment can be improved by better adhering to existing guidelines. Our findings suggest a multifaceted recruitment approach that targets adults and children and provides potential participants with multiple exposures to study information should be employed. This study also highlights the need for greater sophistication and innovation related to recruitment.