Barriers to Recruitment in Pediatric Obesity Trials: Comparing Opt-in and Opt-out Recruitment Approaches. (18th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McCullough, Mary Beth; Janicke, David; Odar Stough, Cathleen; Robson, Shannon; Bolling, Christopher; Zion, Cindy; Stark, Lori
• Is Part Of: Journal of pediatric psychology. Volume 42:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 174
• Page End: 185
• Publication Date: 2016-06-18
• Subjects: children -- obesity -- weight management.; Clinical child psychology -- Periodicals; 618.9289005
• DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsw054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0146-8693

Abstract

Abstract : Objective To compare the efficacy of opt-in versus opt-out recruitment methods in pediatric weight management clinical trials. Methods Recruitment of preschoolers and school-age children across two obesity randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were compared using the same opt-in recruitment approach (parents contact researchers in response to mailings). Opt-in and opt-out strategies (parents send decline postcard in response to mailings if they do not want to participate) were then compared across two preschool obesity RCTs. Results Opt-in strategies yielded a significantly lower overall recruitment rate among preschoolers compared with school-age children. Among preschoolers, an opt-out strategy demonstrated a significantly higher overall recruitment rate compared with an opt-in strategy with the main advantage in the number of families initially contacted. Conclusions Opt-out recruitment strategies may be more effective in overcoming the barriers of recruitment in the preschool age-group because it does not rely on parent recognition of obesity.