Participant Recruitment Research Articles

Video Game-Based Trunk Exercises for Rehabilitation in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Mixed-Methods Feasibility Study.

Aim: To assess the feasibility of video game-based trunk exercises using the Valedo® system in a chronic stroke population. Method: Ten chronic stroke survivors (eight males and two females, mean age 63 ± 15 years) were asked to complete 18 intervention sessions, each lasting 45 min., over 6-8 weeks. Feasibility was evaluated quantitatively using the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS) as well as through recruitment, retention, adherence, and safety measures. Qualitative data on feasibility were collected through post-intervention semi-structured interviews. Descriptive analysis was used to summarize participant characteristics, recruitment, retention, and adherence. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis of the interviews. Results: Twelve stroke survivors were recruited from Southampton (United Kingdom) and Riyadh (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), with two participants dropping out after the baseline assessment session. The remaining ten participants completed the study with a mean adherence of 96.11% to the planned sessions. No serious adverse effects were reported, however, four participants did experience trunk muscle tightness and fatigue. Post-intervention interviews revealed that participants encountered some physical and cognitive challenges while playing the Valedo video games. However, they felt that the implementation of trunk exercises using video games was safe, as the exercises were performed in a secure environment and in safe positions. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the Valedo system is feasible for delivering trunk exercises to chronic stroke survivors. Several factors should be considered when implementing this type of intervention in the future.

Implementation of a genotyped African population cohort, with virtual follow-up: A feasibility study in the Western Cape Province, South Africa

Background There is limited knowledge regarding African genetic drivers of disease due to prohibitive costs of large-scale genomic research in Africa. Methods We piloted a cost-effective, scalable virtual genotyped cohort in South Africa, with participant recruitment using a tiered informed consent model and DNA collection by buccal swab. Genotype data was generated using the H3Africa Illumina micro-array, and phenotype data was derived from routine health data of participants. We demonstrated feasibility of nested case control genome wide association studies using these data for phenotypes type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and severe COVID-19. Results 2267346 variants were analysed in 459 participant samples. 78.6% of SNPs and 74% of samples passed quality control (QC). Principal component analysis showed extensive ancestry admixture in study participants. For 1780 published COVID-19-associated variants, 3 SNPs in the pre-imputation data and 23 SNPS in the imputed data were significantly associated with severe COVID-19 cases compared to controls. For 2755 published T2DM associated variants, 69 SNPs in the pre-imputation data and 419 SNPs in the imputed data were significantly associated with T2DM cases when compared to controls. Conclusions The results shown here are illustrative of what will be possible as the cohort expands in the future. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, recognising that the findings presented here are preliminary and require further validation once we have a sufficient sample size to improve statistical significance of findings. We implemented a genotyped population cohort with virtual follow up data in a resource-constrained African environment, demonstrating feasibility for scale up and novel health discoveries through nested case-control studies.

TRANscranial direct current stimulation for FOcal Refractory epilepsy in mitochondrial disease (TRANSFORM): delayed-start, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study

BackgroundFocal epilepsy is common in children and adults with mitochondrial disease. Seizures are often refractory to pharmacological treatment and, in this patient group, frequently evolve to refractory focal status epilepticus (also known as epilepsia partialis continua). Where this occurs, the long-term prognosis is poor. Transcranial DC stimulation (tDCS) is a promising, non-invasive, adjunctive treatment alternative to common surgical procedures. Limited recruitment of study participants with this rare disease and the ethical challenges of administering a treatment to one group and not another, while maintaining strict methodological rigour can pose challenges to the design of a clinical study.MethodWe designed the first delayed start, double-blinded, sham-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of tDCS as an adjunctive treatment for focal epilepsy. We will include participants with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of mitochondrial disease with drug-resistant focal epilepsy aged ≥ 2 years, aiming to collect 30 episodes of focal status epilepticus, each treated for a maximum period of 14 days. The early start intervention arm will receive tDCS from day 1. The delayed start intervention arm will receive sham stimulation until crossover on day 3. Our primary endpoint is a greater than 50% reduction from baseline (on day 0) in seizure frequency assessed by 3x daily reporting, accelerometery, and video monitoring. Changes in the underlying epileptogenic focus within the brain related to the tDCS intervention will be assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or electroencephalography (EEG).DiscussionStudy results in favour of treatment efficacy would support development of tDCS into a mainstream treatment option for focal epileptic seizures related to mitochondrial disease.Trials registrationISRCTN: 18,241,112; registered on 16/11/2021.

What do older women want from a physical activity program? Stakeholder consultation to optimise design and recruitment for the Active Women over 50 trial

BackgroundEffective recruitment and retention of participants are prerequisites for high quality physical activity intervention programs and evaluation trials, but this is underreported in the literature making it difficult to identify the most promising strategies. Incorporating stakeholder feedback in the design of program components and recruitment materials can optimise recruitment reach and the engagement of participants throughout programs and trials.MethodsThe Active Women over 50 randomised controlled trial is testing a program designed to support women aged 50 + to be more physically active. To optimise program design and recruitment flyers, we conducted one focus group and 17 interviews with diverse purposively sampled women aged 50 + living in New South Wales, Australia. Women were asked to review recruitment flyers and the four proposed program components: (1) health coaching, (2) dedicated website with resources, (3) private Facebook group and (4) motivational email and SMS messages. Data analysis incorporated framework methods, deductive analysis using the Adapted Mobile App Rating Scale for evaluating websites and abductive analysis to critique the underlying program theory.ResultsFive themes were identified in relation to recruitment: I want to see (women like) myself, Keep it real, Readability is for everyone, Why should I do it? and Find us where we live. The four program components were strongly supported as a package, but were valued differently for their relative importance. Results were used to refine the health coaching scheduling; website appearance and content; promotion and moderation of the Facebook group; and the structure, appearance and content of messages. Not all suggestions were actionable due to technological and time constraints, and the desire to keep program costs low enough for delivery at scale during the study and beyond. The program theory was expanded to encompass two emergent concepts.ConclusionsThis consultation resulted in substantial refinements to recruitment flyers and strategies, and all four program components. We anticipate that these refinements will increase the reach and appeal of the trial and optimise future scale-up. Consultation feedback, while specific to this program, may have wider transferability for recruitment and the design of programs with similar components targeting women aged 50+.

Mapping Obesity Trends in Saudi Arabia: A Four-Year Description Study.

Our study aims to map the trends in obesity prevalence over the past four years and to describe the health, behavior, and psychological factors of people living with obesity in Saudi. This is a secondary data analysis using the Sharik Health Indicators Surveillance System (SHISS) from 2020 to 2023. The SHISS dataset comprises cross-sectional telephone interviews carried out quarterly across all administrative regions of Saudi Arabia. Recruitment of participants was restricted to Saudi resident adults only. The study analyzed data from 92,137 participants, with a balanced region and gender distribution. The average age of participants was 36.83 ± 13.68 years. The prevalence of obesity showed minor fluctuations over four years, with the highest at 22.2% in 2020 and lowest at 21.4% in 2023. This study showed that a slight decline in daily smoking rates was observed from 2020 to 2023 across all categories. Participants living with obesity reported a higher consumption of fruits and vegetables compared to their not with obesity counterparts. In addition, participants living with obesity engaged less frequently in physical activities compared to those without obesity. Moreover, people living with obesity have higher incidence rates of depression and anxiety, as well as various of chronic diseases. This study highlights the complex factors affecting obesity prevalence in Saudi Arabia. Despite progress, ongoing health promotion and disease prevention are crucial to address the persistent challenges driven by behavioral and socio-economic factors. Continued surveillance and longitudinal studies are essential to track trends in obesity, smoking, and physical activity, ensuring that health initiatives align with population needs.

An Agent-Based "Virtual Clinical Trial" for the Analysis and Evaluation of COPD Patients Cohorts Behavior

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness. Treatment typically involves lifestyle adjustments, medication, and pulmonary rehabilitation to improve lung function and quality of life. This study presents a model examining COPD patient behavior within cohort-based strategies, focusing on how environmental factors impact vital signs across the entire cohort. We developed a comprehensive virtual clinical trial model that encompasses study protocol design, participant recruitment, virtual data collection, outcome analysis, and conclusions. This includes remote symptom monitoring, virtual healthcare consultations, treatment adherence assessments, and research data collection. Additionally, we explore the influence of external variables such as environmental conditions, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors on chronic disease symptoms and disease stability. We used an Agent-Based Model(ABM) to incorporate these factors to assess COPD progression and treatment efficacy. Individual agents represent COPD patients, each characterized by attributes such as age, smoking history, lung function, comorbidities, and treatment plans.

A Brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention Pilot Study: Lessons Learned in Feasibility and Acceptability Among Healthcare Professionals Experiencing Burnout

We explored the feasibility of a virtual-reality delivered mindfulness training intervention on burnout symptoms among corporate employees and clinicians in the Intensive Care Unit and Palliative Care Unit (PCU). To develop the VR mindfulness intervention we leveraged the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior model (COM-B) as a guide for the design and implementation of the VR mindfulness training intervention. Using a pre-posttest within subjects design we assessed burnout syndrome, job stress and work-related outcomes such as workplace behavior using self-reported measures at baseline and one-month follow up. Due to COVID-19 we were unable to assess 3-month follow-up. Feasibility was measured based on the number of times participants returned for subsequent sessions. Pearson’s correlation shows that more distress and mindfulness were positively related in clinical employees. For corporate employees we saw an increase in mindfulness pre and post-test and a reduction in counterproductive work behavior. However, the co-efficient alpha for the counterproductive work behavior scale was -0.51, therefore results should be interpreted with caution. Lastly, we identified barriers to feasibility in recruitment and retention of participants. The results of the present study hold potential for future interventions to reduce job stress and burnout through virtual reality mindfulness-based interventions.

Home-Based Digital Exercise Training Program to Improve Physical Function of Older Sepsis Survivors: Protocol of the HEAL Sepsis Randomized Clinical Trial.

While sepsis, an exaggerated response to infection, can affect people of all age groups, it is more prevalent in middle-aged and older adults. Older adults suffer worse short-term and long-term outcomes than younger patients. Older sepsis survivors are commonly discharged to long-term acute care facilities, where they often die within 1 year. Those who return home from the hospital lose the momentum of physical function improvement after early inpatient rehabilitation, and often face exacerbation of comorbidities and decline in physical function. Additionally, patients who are discharged home often live at distant locations and are not able to commute to rehabilitation centers due to their poor health status. Therefore, remotely delivered exercise interventions tailored to this population hold promise to improve physical function safely and effectively after sepsis. However, this type of intervention has yet to be tested in this population. This study aims to assess the safety, feasibility, and ease of recruitment and retention of participants for a remotely delivered physical activity intervention for improving physical function in middle-aged and older sepsis survivors. The proposed intervention will be delivered through a digital health platform that comprises a patient-facing mobile app and a 12-week physical activity program specifically designed for middle-aged and older sepsis survivors with poor health status who may face challenges participating in traditional out-patient or community-based exercise interventions. This study is ongoing and plans to enroll 40 sepsis survivors aged 55 years and older who will be randomized to either a remotely delivered exercise intervention group or a control group (electronic health diary). Both groups will use a tablet containing the Health in Motion app (Blue Marble Health). The intervention group will receive a clinician-designed personalized avatar-guided home exercise program and reminders while the control group will self-report daily activities using the in-app health diary feature. This study is the first to use a home-based, remotely monitored 12-week exercise program to improve physical function in sepsis survivors. This study will evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy, providing the necessary knowledge to design and calculate power for future larger trials. This study will provide important information for planning a future randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of a remotely delivered exercise intervention in this high-risk population. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05568511; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05568511. DERR1-10.2196/60270.

Development and Validation of a Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy Training Model.

Proper training is necessary to develop the highly specialized skills required to safely perform laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. Currently, there is no validated training model for laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy that includes dissection of the presacral space, both vaginal and presacral mesh attachments, and peritoneal closure. This study aimed to create a procedure specific hierarchical task analysis for laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy and then develop and validate a corresponding laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy pelvic training model for the simulation environment. This was an observational simulation study that was divided into 5 phases: (1) development of hierarchical task analysis, (2) model construction, (3) participant recruitment and simulation testing, (4) reliability and validity testing, and (5) creation of a standard passing performance measure. Construct, face, and content validity were established for this model. According to the participating experts, the model was able to replicate the steps of presacral dissection, anterior vaginal and sacral mesh attachment, and peritoneal closure. Thirteen trainees and 5 experts completed the simulation, and all "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the model seemed useful for improving suturing technique and learning the procedure. Additionally, a passing performance measure was determined through contrasting groups methodology. We developed a novel, reusable, and validated training model that can be utilized as a training resource for the many critical skills necessary to safely and efficiently perform laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy.

Evaluation of Hepatitis C Virus Transmission Through Endoscopy Procedures in the Country of Georgia.

Exposure to healthcare procedures might be a source of hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission in Georgia, one of the few countries currently on track to eliminate hepatitis C. While there has been a history of iatrogenic transmission of HCV, the risk of HCV transmission related to endoscopic procedures has not been previously assessed in Georgia. The goal of this study was to assess HCV seroconversion among individuals undergoing endoscopic procedures to estimate the relative role and incidence of HCV infection attributable to endoscopic procedures. A prospective cohort study was conducted in four endoscopy units in two cities (Tbilisi and Kutaisi) of Georgia during April-September, 2021. Recruitment of study participants was conducted using convenience sampling, and every eligible patient was approached and invited to participate in the study. Study population included adults (age ≥ 18 years) who received an endoscopic procedure (gastroscopy, colonoscopy and bronchoscopy) in inpatient or outpatient unit at the study sites. HCV antibody (anti-HCV) testing was conducted using rapid diagnostic test (RDT) on the same day they underwent the endoscopic procedure. Patients with a non-reactive anti-HCV baseline test were retested after 6 months. Patients with reactive baseline tests were excluded from the study and linked to further testing and care. Participants with a reactive result on follow-up RDTs were retested using a lab-based anti-HCV and HCV ribonucleic acid (RNA) test. A total of 981 HCV antibody non-reactive participants were enrolled; 590 (64.8%) of them were reached and retested after 6 months. At retesting, two out of 590 (0.3%) individuals had a reactive anti-HCV result on RDT and both were negative on laboratory-based anti-HCV and HCV RNA tests. Based on the results of this study, endoscopic procedures were not shown to contribute to HCV transmission in Georgia.

Facilitators and barriers to implementing the Diabetes Prevention Program in rural church settings: A qualitative study using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

The CDC's Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is an effective lifestyle intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, DPP implementation in rural areas is limited. This study sought to address this gap by implementing DPP in rural church settings through a community-academic partnership and identifying implementation facilitators and barriers. This was a cross-sectional qualitative study. Semistructured interviews guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) assessed church leaders' and lifestyle coaches' perceptions of implementing DPP in rural churches. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes through an inductive approach; then, these emergent themes were deductively linked to CFIR constructs. COREQ guidelines were used to report study findings. Twenty-five stakeholders participated. Facilitators to implementing DPP included its evidence-based effectiveness in preventing T2D, as well as support from the academic partner in terms of funding, training, and communication. Additionally, DPP's alignment with community needs, along with the active engagement of pastors in participant recruitment, supported implementation. Several barriers hindered DPP implementation, including transportation and childcare issues, as well as program participants' medical conditions/disabilities limiting their participation. Furthermore, rural residents' reluctance to adopt lifestyle changes and loyalty to family churches posed challenges to their engagement in DPP. This study identified contextual factors influencing DPP implementation in rural communities. Findings highlight the importance of tailored strategies that leverage facilitators while proactively addressing barriers, including rural residents' reluctance to attend programs outside their church, resistance to lifestyle changes, and transportation issues to ensure successful DPP implementation in rural areas.

Synchronous and asynchronous tele-exercise for older adults: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial

Objective: Multicomponent physical training, carried out via tele-exercise, can contribute to a healthier lifestyle in the elderly. The objective is to present the intervention protocol of the “Idoso Ativo” (Active Older Adult) program via tele-exercise, synchronously and asynchronously. Method: This is a randomized clinical trial with two groups performing tele-exercise. Participant recruitment will be done via digital platforms, social media pages and printed leaflets distributed in the different regions of Distrito Federal. Both groups will perform exercises three times a week, lasting 50 min, and the intervention period will be 12 weeks. Discussion: The hypothesis is that the multicomponent exercise program offered online will provide improvements in muscular strength, balance and mobility in both groups. A higher adherence rate is expected in relation to the asynchronous group, and it is believed that the positive effects on physical health, minimizing the negative outcomes caused by inactivity, are present in participants in both groups.

Using Social Media to Recruit Participants in Health Care Research: Case Study.

This paper presents a case study describing the use of social media, specifically Facebook and Instagram, as a valuable tool for recruiting participants in community-engaged health care studies. Drawing on the experiences of our team during a qualitative study aiming to understand the needs of Indigenous fathers and Two-Spirit parents as they transition to parenthood, we offer an in-depth exploration of our social media recruitment strategy. This strategy encompasses deliberate content creation and online engagement with local Indigenous community organizations and people. Through the implementation of this recruitment strategy, we successfully recruited 18 Indigenous fathers and 4 Two-Spirit parents to our community-engaged project. We learned that social media can be used to enhance recruitment by building community trust, engagement, tailored content for specific audiences, and adaptive strategies guided by data metrics provided by social media platforms. Our journey included several challenges, such as dealing with fraudulent participants, navigating budget and resource constraints, and facing recruitment limitations, which we also describe in detail. Our paper provides essential insights for researchers considering the use of social media as a recruitment tool but we are unsure of how to begin. Health care researchers may find our experience and recommendations helpful for developing and implementing their own effective social media recruitment strategy. Meanwhile, sharing our experience contributes to the broader understanding of the role of social media in participant recruitment.

Paediatric family activation rapid response (FARR) in acute care: a qualitative study for developing a multilingual application (app) intervention

BackgroundDelayed recognition of clinical deterioration can result in harm to patients. Parents/carers can often recognise changes in the child’s condition before healthcare professionals (HCPs). To mitigate the risk of failure...

Redesigning a Stopped Clinical Trial as an Emulated Trial Using Real-World Data to Explore the Effectiveness of Slow-Release Oral Morphine as a Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.

Canada is currently experiencing a problematic opioid crisis with increasing mortality rates. Traditional randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examine the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment options for people with opioid use disorder (OUD) are challenging to conduct. An increasingly popular methodology is through the implementation of emulated clinical trials, a methodology in which key elements of a "target" RCT are replicated using previously collected healthcare-based data. They can possibly address some of the common challenges found in the conduct of RCTs, such as prolonged timelines, high cost, and poor participant recruitment. In effect, emulated trials accelerate knowledge generation by producing real-world evidence that can be akin to phase 3 effectiveness trials, without any need to recruit live participants or administer investigational products. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several trials were stopped due to increased pandemic-related research restrictions, leaving important questions about OUD treatment unanswered. In this commentary, we describe the transition of a traditional RCT to an emulated trial spurred by challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We describe our transition using a notable published framework with regards to the population sample, interventions, outcomes, and proposed analyses. This commentary aims to help other researchers and trialists apply emulated trials in substance use research and beyond, emphasizing the role of this methodology in clinical research and advancing scientific knowledge that could be otherwise lost or unattainable.

EEG Evidence of Acute Stress Enhancing Inhibition Control by Increasing Attention.

Research about the impact of acute stress on inhibitory control remains a contentious topic, with no consensus reached thus far. This study aims to investigate the effects of acute stress on an individual's inhibitory control abilities and to elucidate the underlying neural mechanisms by analyzing resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) data. We recruited 32 male college students through participant recruitment information to undergo within-subject experiments under stress and non-stress conditions. Physiological indicators (cortisol and heart rate), self-report questionnaires, and behavioral data from the Stroop task were collected before, during, and after the experiment. Additionally, a five-minute eyes closed resting state EEG data collection was conducted during the Stroop task before. (1) Acute stress led to a reduction in the conflict effect during the participants' Stroop task in individuals. (2) Stress resulted in an increase in the power of the beta in the resting state EEG. (3) Acute stress caused an increase in the duration of class D and an increase in the transition probabilities from classes C and B to class D in the microstates of the resting state EEG. (4) Acute stress leads to an increase in beta power values in individuals' resting state EEGs, which is significantly negatively correlated with the reduction of the conflict effect in the Stroop task under stress. Acute stress can enhance individuals' attentional level, thereby promoting inhibitory control performance.

Acupuncture as Adjuvant Therapy for Glaucoma: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Glaucoma is a chronic progressive optic neuropathy that necessitates lifelong treatment to reduce the decline of the optic nerve. Due to the extended and continuous treatments required for patients, complementary therapies are often considered alongside conventional treatments to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. Acupuncture has demonstrated the potential to lower intraocular pressure in previous clinical trials, making it a promising glaucoma intervention. The primary objective of this study is to conduct a single-center randomized control trial involving patients with glaucoma. Acupuncture will be evaluated as an adjunctive therapy. The trial aims to explore its effectiveness for glaucoma. In this single-center randomized controlled trial, participants (N=50) with primary open-angle glaucoma will be randomly assigned to the treatment group, receiving ophthalmic acupuncture with "De Qi" sensation, or the control group, receiving minimum acupuncture stimulation on nonophthalmic acupoints. The intervention will consist of weekly acupuncture treatments for a total of 6 sessions. Participants will be assessed at 8 time points, which are baseline, during the intervention (6 times), and at a 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome measure is a change in the intraocular pressure before and after each acupuncture treatment. Secondary outcomes will include measurements of heart rate and blood pressure before and after acupuncture, best-corrected visual acuity, visual field, optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, the Glaucoma Symptom Scale, and the Glaucoma Quality of Life-15 questionnaire. Recruitment of participants for the trial commenced on June 28, 2023. A total of 10 participants have been enrolled to test the feasibility of the experiment. We anticipate that the preliminary data from this trial will be completed by December 2025. This trial uses rigorous methodology and comprehensive outcome measurements to assess the clinical efficacy of acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy for glaucoma, providing valuable insights for future clinical treatment guidelines. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05753137; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05753137. DERR1-10.2196/57888.

A study on music therapy aimed at psychological trauma recovery for bereaved families driven by artificial intelligence.

This study explores the effectiveness of music therapy in repairing psychological trauma in bereaved families, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of its potential therapeutic impact. It begins with an analysis of the current situation faced by bereaved families, identifying the psychological challenges they experience. The research design included the recruitment of participants from bereaved families, who were then divided into an experimental group and a control group. An optimized Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network model was constructed to analyze music therapy data, tailored specifically to capture the nuances of this therapeutic process. The experimental procedure detailed the specific operations involved in the music therapy sessions and established a clear comparison framework between the two groups. The performance of the proposed LSTM model demonstrated high accuracy (0.85), precision (0.86), recall (0.84), and F 1-score (0.85), indicating its effectiveness in predicting treatment outcomes. When compared to the Self-Reporting Inventory-90 (SCL-90) scale, the model captured the trend of treatment effects with a high level of accuracy and reliability. Notably, participants numbered 2, 6, and 8 in the experimental group showed substantial improvement rates of 67.21%, 71.45%, and 75.67%, respectively, in their psychological health issues. The comparative analysis between the experimental and control groups confirmed that the music therapy approach, as guided by the proposed LSTM model, led to a more significant improvement in psychological health issues for bereaved families. This suggests that the model offers a promising avenue for enhancing the effectiveness of music therapy in this context.

Recruitment of emergency department patients to a prospective observational study

BackgroundThe dynamic environment of the emergency department (ED) poses unique challenges to the execution of well-designed research. There is limited investigation into the viability of studies conducted in the ED. This paper offers a systematic evaluation of our recruitment of emergency patients for a prospective observational research study, shedding light on the intricate landscape of research feasibility within the ED setting.ResultsResearch coordinators dedicated 2816.83 h to screening, recruiting, and enrolling patients between June 2018 and September 2023, having to stop recruitment twice due to financial constraints and the COVID-19 pandemic. 485 patients were approached and 84 of them were enrolled, resulting in a 31.94% enrollment rate, with approximately 2.8 participants recruited per month. Of those enrolled, 77 completed all study endpoints. Most participants were Hispanic (n = 44; 52.3%) and/or Black (n = 37; 44%), middle-aged (µ = 51.7 years), and female (n = 48; 57.1%). Participant recruitment was challenged by competing mindsets, the COVID-19 pandemic, and high staff turnover.ConclusionsRecruiting emergency patients for a prospective observational study is feasible given adequate staffing and financial resources. Standardizing feasibility assessments for the recruitment of patients in the emergency department is important to the success of future study.

Diverse Participant Recruitment for Infant Sequencing in the BabySeq Project.

It is essential that studies of genomic sequencing (GS) in newborns and children include individuals from under-represented racial and ethnic groups (URG) to ensure future applications are equitably implemented. We conducted interviews with parents from URG to better understand their perspectives on GS research, develop strategies to reduce barriers to enrollment, and facilitate research participation. Semi-structured interviews with 50 parents from URG. Nearly all parents (44) said they would be interested in participating in an infant GS study. Parents were interested in participating in GS research for reasons including clinical utility, personal utility, and/or family health benefits. Deterrents to enrollment cited by parents were discomfort with enrollment procedures (e.g., not wanting a heel stick), limited emotional bandwidth, unfavorable perceptions of the study, and concerns about potential results. Most parents (35 of 40) said they would want to receive all types of genetic results, including actionable and non-actionable, as well as childhood- and adult-onset. Our findings demonstrate that parents from URG are interested in participating in GS research. Based upon these findings, we provide recommendations for designing GS studies that are responsive to their concerns.