Comparison of Enrollment Rates of African-American Families into a School-Based Tobacco Prevention Trial Using Two Recruitment Strategies in Urban and Rural Settings. Issue 4 (March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tingen, Martha S.; Andrews, Jeannette O.; Heath, Janie; Turnmire, Ashley E.; Waller, Jennifer L.; Treiber, Frank A.
• Is Part Of: American journal of health promotion. Volume 27:Issue 4(2013)
• Page Start: e91
• Page End: e100
• Publication Date: 2013-03
• Subjects: African-Americans -- Children -- Families -- School Systems -- Rural -- Urban -- Recruitment Strategies -- FOSTER Approach -- Tobacco Control -- Prevention Research -- Manuscript format: research -- Research purpose: intervention testing/program evaluation -- Study design: quasi-experimental -- Outcome measure: behavioral -- Setting: school -- Health focus: smoking control -- Strategy: tailored recruitment approaches -- Target population age: children and adults -- Target population: African-American families in rural and urban school settings; Health promotion -- Periodicals; Health Promotion; Health promotion; Periodicals; Periodicals; 613.05
• DOI: 10.4278/ajhp.110204-QUAN-53
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0890-1171

Abstract

Purpose: This study evaluated similarities and differences of enrollment rates using two different recruitment strategies for a tobacco control trial in rural and urban African-American (AA) elementary school families. Design: A comparative study, nested within a larger randomized controlled trial, was used to test the effectiveness of two recruitment approaches on enrollment rates in rural and urban AA families. Setting: The study was conducted in 14 Title 1 elementary schools in the southeastern United States: 7 rural and 7 urban. Subjects: There were 736 eligible AA families, and 332 (45%) completed informed consent and were enrolled into the study. Intervention: The Facilitate, Open and transparent communication, Shared benefits, Team and tailored, Educate bilaterally, and Relationships, realistic and rewards (FOSTER) approach guided the two recruitment strategies: (1) written informational packets provided to fourth graders to take home to parents; and (2) proactive, face-to-face family information sessions held at schools. Measures: Enrollment rates were based on responsiveness to the two recruitment strategies and completion of the informed consent process. Analysis: Chi-square, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel, and Breslow-Day tests were performed. Results: Higher enrollment rates occurred during the family session for both rural and urban families (100% rural, 93.6% urban; p = .0475) than informational packets alone (28.7% rural, 22% urban; p < .0001). Rural family enrollment rates were overall higher than urban rates regardless of recruitment strategy (52.0% rural vs. 39.6% urban; p = .0008). Conclusion: The findings suggest the FOSTER approach, although effective in both rural and urban settings, was more successful in recruiting rural families.