Abstract
BackgroundRecent changes in communication technologies, including increased reliance on mobile phones and the internet, may present challenges and/or opportunities to re-engaging inactive study cohorts. We evaluate our ability to recruit participants for the Kidskin Young Adult Myopia Study (KYAMS), a follow-up of the Kidskin Study.MethodsKYAMS participants were recruited from the Kidskin Study, a sun exposure-intervention study for 5–6 year-olds running from 1995 to 1999 with most recent follow-up in 2005. From 2015 to 2019, the KYAMS used mail-outs, phone calls and social media to contact Kidskin Study participants. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with successful contact of a Kidskin Study participant or family member and KYAMS participation.ResultsOf 1695 eligible participants, 599 (35.5%) participants (or a family member) were contacted and 303 (17.9%) participated in the KYAMS. KYAMS participation was more likely in those who participated in the 2005 follow-up (odds ratio [OR] = 5.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.67–7.06) and had a mobile phone number on record (OR = 2.25, CI: 1.57–3.23). Of those contacted, participants who were the first point of contact (OR = 4.84, CI: 2.89–8.10) and who were contacted by letter in the first (OR = 6.53, CI: 3.35–12.75) or second (OR = 5.77, CI: 2.85–11.67) round were more likely to participate in the KYAMS, compared to contact by landline phone.ConclusionsWe recruited approximately one-fifth of Kidskin Study participants for the KYAMS. Participants were more likely to participate in the KYAMS if they were contacted directly, rather than through a family member, and if they were contacted by invitation letter.Trial registrationACTRN12617000812392.
Highlights
Recent changes in communication technologies, including increased reliance on mobile phones and the internet, may present challenges and/or opportunities to re-engaging inactive study cohorts
Logistic regression was used to analyse the association between demographics and available contact data at the beginning of the Kidskin Young Adult Myopia Study (KYAMS) and participation in the KYAMS or contact being made with the participant or a family member. For those who were contacted, we investigated whether the first point of contact, or a particular contact method, was more likely to result in KYAMS participation
Having a mobile or landline telephone number was associated with greater likelihood of being contacted, we found that once contact had been achieved, contact by invitation letter was most likely to result in KYAMS participation
Summary
Recent changes in communication technologies, including increased reliance on mobile phones and the internet, may present challenges and/or opportunities to re-engaging inactive study cohorts. We evaluate our ability to recruit participants for the Kidskin Young Adult Myopia Study (KYAMS), a follow-up of the Kidskin Study. To fully investigate the long-term effects of childhood lifestyle and environment on health, it may be necessary to conduct long-term, prospective, cohort studies; these studies are costly to run and maintain. A cheaper and quicker alternative to a prospective cohort study may be to leverage off a previously established cohort and re-engage or recruit its participants for a followup. We conducted the Kidskin Young Adult Myopia Study (KYAMS), a follow-up of the Kidskin Study. The Kidskin Study was initially established to investigate
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