Table 6 Recommendations for standardized planning and reporting of retention protocols

1. Developing a retention protocol

 – Conducting a systematic review of the literature

 – Using theoretical frameworks and methodologies to identify retention strategies

 – Developing retention planning, participant engagement and maintenance activities within an evaluation framework

 – Developing data-informed monitoring and evaluation of retention strategies

2. Implementing a retention protocol

 – Evaluating and refining strategies for monitoring and assessing effectiveness

 – Conducting quantitative and qualitative comparative analyses of strategies

 – Monitoring and evaluating costs of specific efforts

3. Publishing retention protocol and outcome data

 – Reporting in peer-reviewed journals and other public venues and sharing lessons learned