Recruitment and Retention Challenges in Breast Cancer Survivorship Research

Recruitment and Retention Challenges in Breast Cancer Survivorship Research

Results from a Multisite, Randomized Intervention Trial in Women with Early Stage Breast Cancer1

Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095-1563 [A. L. S.]; Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045 [S. R. S.]; University of California Los Angeles, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Research, School of Public Health and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6900 [L. K., P. A. G.]; Georgetown University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Washington, DC 20007-2197 [J. L. K.]; Office of Cancer Survivorship, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland 20852 [J. H. R.]; and Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-1061 [B. E. M.]

Abstract

The Moving Beyond Cancer trial is a multisite randomized, controlled trial of an individualized psychoeducational intervention for women with early stage breast cancer. Recruitment early in the cancer trajectory and assessment of retention at multiple points are notable features of the research, offering a unique opportunity to examine recruitment, retention, and predictors of participation. Patients were registered for the study within 6 weeks after definitive surgery and followed until primary medical treatment completion, whereupon they were enrolled, administered baseline measures, and randomized to one of three arms. Of 2242 women referred, 41% were ineligible. Of eligible women, 42% elected participation through the point of randomization (n = 558). Participants did not differ from nonparticipants on initial self-reported physical functioning and mental health status, employment status, cancer history, cancer treatment plan, or previous cancer-related research participation. Women who were over 65 years of age, of racial minority status, unmarried, or less educated were less likely to participate through the point of randomization. Thus, several patient characteristics predicted trial participation, indicating the need for targeted recruitment attempts.

Footnotes

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
↵1 This work was supported by a National Cancer Institute Grant 2 R01 CA63028 to the authors (Principal Investigator, P. A. G.).
↵2 To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Department of Psychology, 1285 Franz Hall, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563. Phone: (310) 267-2835; Fax: (310) 206-3566; E-mail: astanton{at}ucla.edu
↵3 The abbreviations used are: RCT, randomized, controlled trial; UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles; DC, Georgetown University; KS, University of Kansas; IRB, Institutional Review Board; DCIS, ductal carcinoma in situ;LCIS, lobular carcinoma in situ.
- Accepted July 2, 1903.
- Received September 13, 1902.
- Revision received June 25, 1903.