Clinical trial teams embarking on large , multicenter studies can use the steps outlined in this framework to develop a centralized and standardized recruitment strategy . This approach can help to reduce site-level burden while also expediting recruitment . Clinical trial teams involved in single-site or smaller scale studies can use this framework to guide development of outreach and recruitment materials . To complement and facilitate your strategy , this chapter also presents a toolkit of materials and examples of methods employed by other Parkinson ' s research teams to enhance their recruitment efforts .
Understand Your Target Population through a Recruitment Committee
Forming a recruitment committee early in the planning phase of a clinical trial is fundamental to better understanding your target population and developing an effective strategy . This committee can take the lead on developing a set of centralized and standardized outreach materials to be distributed among your sites , helping to reduce burden and facilitate recruitment . It is important to include a diverse set of stakeholders on the committee , who will bring a variety of perspectives , cultural sensitivities and experiences with outreach to the discussion .
Objectives
The recruitment committee develops the recruitment strategy and communicates it to others . It creates messaging and standardized materials , talks to study leadership and to sites about the strategy and how it should be implemented , and fields questions or concerns as they arise . Additional objectives for the recruitment committee are to :
+ + Guide study leadership on goals of the target population ( i . e ., what are their desired health outcomes , motivations to participate , perceived benefits from participating )
+ + Provide insights regarding off-ramps ( e . g ., potential barriers to participation , frustrations with clinical research or study teams , challenges with current therapies )
+ + Offer feedback on messaging ( e . g ., cultural sensitivities , vernacular , reading level ) and the most effective methods for conducting outreach to the target population ( s ) ( e . g ., where do they get their information , how do they prefer to get their information , are they online )
+ + Facilitate outreach among target audiences ( e . g ., do they have networks that they can engage to promote your study and how best to engage them )
+ + Monitor recruitment strategies and adapt as necessary
Potential Members
Designate a member of the study ’ s steering committee to lead the formation of a recruitment committee . The recruitment committee should include stakeholders from a number of different groups , but should not be so large that it becomes difficult to make decisions quickly and efficiently . An ideal number of participants in the recruitment committee is between eight and 12 . For example :
+ + Study principal investigators ( 1-2 ) + + Study project manager ( 1 )
+ + Contract Research Organization project manager ( 1 )
+ + Clinical trial site representatives ( e . g ., site investigators or coordinators ) ( 2-3 )
+ + Patients with Parkinson ’ s disease and / or care partners ( 2-3 )
+ + Representatives of patient-facing or advocacy organizations ( 1-2 )
+ + Representatives of federal organizations or neurodegenerative disease associations ( 1 )
+ + Community clinician ( e . g ., movement disorder specialist , neurologist , primary care physician ) ( 1 )
To ensure your recruitment committee embodies a variety of perspectives , you may want to consider that patients and other community representatives have participated in clinical trials ( or have other relevant experience ) and are frequently engaged with lay audiences , through support groups or other
18 Accelerating Clinical Trials : Best Practices for Recruitment and Retention