Danielle C. Blanch|Rima E. Rudd|Elizabeth A. Wright|Victoria Gall|Jeffrey N. Katz
Predictors of refusal during a multi-step recruitment process for a randomized controlled trial of arthritis education
Northeastern University|Harvard University|Brigham and Women's Hospital|New England Baptist Hospital|Brigham and Women's Hospital|Brigham and Women's Hospital
objectiverandomized controlled trials patient education often difficulty enrolling vulnerable populations specifically older poorer less educated individualswe undertook randomized controlled trial rct educational intervention arthritis management included strategies remove literacyrelated barriers participationthis paper reports multistage recruitment process assesses whether refusal participate related education age gender working status insurance statusmethodsthe recruitment protocol designed eliminate literacyrelated barriers participationpatients never asked read fill formsinteractions oral using everyday terms short clear sentencespatients declined screening call considered stage 1 refuserspatients initially expressed interest neither completed baseline questionnaire provided consent considered stage 2 refuserspatients consented considered enrolleesage gender insurance status compared stage 1 refusers enrolleesa second analysis compared variables plus educational attainment working status stage 2 refusers enrolleesresultsof 408 eligible patients 193 473stage 1 refusers 81 199stage 2 refusers 134 328enrolleesa higher proportion stage 1 refusers enrollees 65 years old 58 vs 37 p0003multivariate analysis adjusting gender insurance status confirmed effect older age refusal or231436there significant differences stage 2 refusers enrollees