Studying physician-adolescent patient communication in community-based practices: recruitment challenges and solutions
-
Michael E. Bodner
,
Alicia Bilheimer
Abstract
Background:
Practice-based studies are needed to assess how physicians communicate health messages about weight to overweight/obese adolescent patients, but successful recruitment to such studies is challenging. This paper describes challenges, solutions, and lessons learned to recruit physicians and adolescents to the Teen Communicating Health Analyzing Talk (CHAT) study, a randomized controlled trial of a communication skills intervention for primary care physicians to enhance communication about weight with overweight/obese adolescents.
Materials and methods:
A “peer-to-peer” approach was used to recruit physicians, including the use of “clinic champions” who liaised between study leaders and physicians. Consistent rapport and cooperative working relationships with physicians and clinic staff were developed and maintained. Adolescent clinic files were reviewed (HIPAA waiver) to assess eligibility. Parents could elect to opt-out for their children. To encourage enrollment, confidentiality of audio recordings was emphasized, and financial incentives were offered to all participants.
Results:
We recruited 49 physicians and audio-recorded 391 of their overweight/obese adolescents’ visits. Recruitment challenges included 1) physician reticence to participate; 2) variability in clinic operating procedures; 3) variability in adolescent accrual rates; 4) clinic open access scheduling; and 5) establishing communication with parents and adolescents. Key solutions included the use of a “clinic champion” to help recruit physicians, pro-active, consistent communication with clinic staff, and adapting calling times to reach parents and adolescents.
Conclusion:
Recruiting physicians and adolescents to audio-recorded, practice-based health communication studies can be successful. Anticipated challenges to recruiting can be met with advanced planning; however, optimal solutions to challenges evolve as recruitment progresses.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health: R01HL092403, Dr. Kathryn I. Pollak, Principal Investigator.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Drinking, driving and a bit of cannabis
- Adolescent suicide and testosterone
- Adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health: an ecological perspective
- Studying physician-adolescent patient communication in community-based practices: recruitment challenges and solutions
- Differences in use of contraception by age, sex and HIV status of 10–19-year-old adolescents in Nigeria
- Auditory and visual reaction times in school going adolescents: effect of structured and unstructured physical training – a randomized control trial
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- Prevalence of stress and stress tolerance levels among adolescent boys – a district level cross sectional study in South India
- Self-concept and social comparison and their relation with smoking and alcohol consumption in adolescents
- Passive smoking: knowledge, exposure and responses among adolescents in a rural setting in Sri Lanka
- The contribution of the health management studies program to the professional status of graduates
- Hacking the hospital environment: young adults designing youth-friendly hospital rooms together with young people with cancer experiences
- Helmet use of adolescent cyclists at Crescent School in Toronto, Canada
- Successful treatment of short stature with growth hormone replacement therapy in a patient with anorexia nervosa
- Characteristics of the most viewed YouTube™ videos related to bullying
- Strategy instruction for middle and secondary students with mild disabilities: Creating independent learners
