Amy B. Weiss, MPH, Melanie C. Locher, Beth Brown, MA, and Felicia Stewart, MD. Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy, University of California, San Francisco, 507 W. 6th Street, Reno, NV 89503, 775-329-5558, weissa@obgyn.ucsf.edu

Conducting reproductive health-related research with adolescent and young-adult women poses a challenge for researchers. Teens are generally hesitant to risk parents finding out about their participation in sexual activity, use of contraception, or exposure to sexually transmitted infections, and ethical considerations further limit researchers’ ability to recruit minors for reproductive health-related research. Young adult women can also be difficult to study because they often change residences during extended periods of study follow-up. This presentation will identify factors that contributed to the rapid enrollment of participants and successful ongoing follow-up during a NIH-funded multi-center study on emergency contraception. At our study site in Reno, Nevada, we enrolled 900 participants (516 teens and 384 young adults) over a 16 month period – double the rate specified in the original study protocol. We have also maintained 6-month and 1-year follow-up rates of over 90%. This presentation will review site characteristics and project staff activities that contributed to the site’s success. Implications for future study site selection—including possible advantages of sites located outside major academic urban areas, will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to identify at least 5 key factors that enhance enrollment and retention of adolescent and young-adult female participants in research on reproductive health issues.

Keywords: Adolescents, Reproductive Health Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.