Challenges in recruiting and retaining adolescents with abuse-related posttraumatic stress disorder: lessons learned from a randomized controlled trial

Anna Vogel,Hannah Comtesse,Rita Rosner

doi:10.1186/s13034-020-00320-y

Abstract

BackgroundResearch on effective recruitment and retention strategies for adolescents and young adults suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder is scarce. The aim of the current study was to provide data on recruitment sources, barriers, and facilitators for participation in a randomized controlled trial for young individuals with histories of sexual and/or physical abuse.MethodsStudy participants aged 14 to 21 were asked to complete a checklist on individual sources of recruitment, barriers, and facilitators for participation in the trial. Fifty-three out of the 80 study participants who were contacted completed the checklist (66.3%).ResultsMost respondents reported multiple recruitment sources, with online and media advertising search strategies indicated most frequently (45.4% of all mentions), followed by practitioner-referred sources (38.7%). Respondents’ reported barriers included additional demands of the trial (60.3%), followed by distress caused by having to talk about painful topics (15.5%). The most frequently indicated facilitators were the organizational setting (55.1%) and monetary incentives (22.2%), followed by social support (12.0%) and non-monetary incentives (10.2%). No significant differences were observed between adolescent and young adult respondents with the exception that adolescents reported significantly more frequently that they had learned about the trial from their caregiver.ConclusionsOur findings permit the formulation of recommendations for planning and conducting trials with this clientele. Future research is needed on how specific barriers can be effectively overcome.

Highlights

Research on effective recruitment and retention strategies for adolescents and young adults suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder is scarce
We aimed to examine recruitment methods, barriers and facilitators for study participation reported by study participants aged 14 to 21 and whether there were differences between adolescent and young adult participants
The results of our survey indicated that adolescents and young adults suffering from abuse-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) used multiple recruitment sources, with online and media advertising search strategies indicated most frequently

Summary

Introduction

Research on effective recruitment and retention strategies for adolescents and young adults suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder is scarce. Barriers and facilitators for recruitment to mental health trials A systematic review [10] identified several barriers to adult patient participation in RCTs, such as additional demands on the patient (e.g., additional appointments, travel problems and costs), patient preferences for a specific treatment, worries about the uncertainty of treatment efficacy, and concerns about information and consent. In the context of research on the use of mental health services, several barriers relevant to ethnic minority participants have been added, such as individual explanatory models of illness, help-seeking behavior, stigma (for self and family), medical insurance, lack of childcare, and language difficulties [11, 12]. Most of them are not unique to participants from ethnic minorities, the way in which they manifest themselves might often be distinct in different minority groups

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion