Table 1 Details of three studies that recruited young women, conducted at the University of Newcastle, Australia
From: Recruitment and retention of young women into nutrition research studies: practical considerations
Study | Participants and eligibility criteria | Recruitment | Retention strategies |
|---|---|---|---|
Study one (iron and cognition RCT) | ● Women aged 18 to 35 years | Recruitment location and time period: | ● Text message reminders for taking capsules |
● BMI 18.5 to 30 kg/m2 | |||
● English as first language | |||
● University of Newcastle, Australia from August 2010 to March 2013 | ● Recommendation to leave container of capsules next to their toothbrush | ||
● Not diagnosed with iron deficiency within the last 12 months | |||
● Not currently taking iron supplementation | Recruitment methods: | ● Recommendation to use the calendar provided to cross days off after the capsule was taken | |
● No chronic medical condition | ● Flyers distributed across the campus (notice boards, cafeterias and outside lecture theatres). | ● A small container was provided for handbags if remembered later in the day | |
● Not taking medication that could potentially interfere with results | ● In lectures, using PowerPoint slide | ● This information was included in a tips sheet for participants | |
● Not donated blood within three months prior to screening | ● Word of mouth around campus | ● Refer to information sheet provided if common symptoms were present | |
● Able to provide blood samples | ● Provision of course credit in two University courses (psychology and nursing) | ||
● Not pregnant, or planning to become pregnant within the following four months | ● Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) research volunteer register | ||
● Available for the following four months. | ● Community flyers (gyms, technical college campuses and by word-of-mouth). | ||
● Emails sent around University mailing lists for each faculty | |||
● Advertisement on the University of Newcastle Facebook page. | |||
Study two (crossover food diary validation study) | ● Women aged 18 to 30 years | Recruitment location and time period: | ● Email and text message reminders about each data collection session |
● Healthy weight or overweight (BMI 21 to 30 kg/m2) | ● University of Newcastle, Australia from January to May 2012. | ● Thirty dollar reimbursement gift voucher to cover travel and parking costs | |
● Access to a computer and a Smartphone with Internet access | Recruitment methods: | ||
● Self-reported moderate level of Internet and Smartphone skills | ● Advertisements posted on staff and student bulletin boards, | ||
● Weight stability over previous three months, and willingness to remain weight stable over the 37-day study period | University website and social networking sites (that is, Facebook and Twitter). | ||
● Not currently or planning to become pregnant or currently breastfeeding | |||
● Not taking medications that affect weight or appetite | |||
● No diagnosed metabolic disorders | |||
● Non-smokers | |||
Study three (cross-sectional online weight management survey) | ● Australian women aged 18 to 30 years | Recruitment location and time period: | N/A |
● University of Newcastle in August 2012 | |||
Recruitment methods: | |||
● Advertisements on University website | |||
● Social networking sites | |||
● Staff and student Email lists | |||
● A link to the online survey was provided as part of the advertisement/Email. | |||
● ‘Virtual snowballing’ was used to increase the size, and representative nature of the sample, whereby survey respondents were asked to pass on details of the study to others within the target group via Email (that is, Email the survey link to their friends) and/or social networking (for example, share the survey link with their Facebook friends) | |||
● Prize draws were used to attract young women, including shopping centre, beauty therapy and cinema vouchers. |