Health Communication and Health Literacy – Recruitment Experiences Using Two Health Care Organizations

Background: Technological advances in health communications can potentially help or create barriers for individuals. While the overall design of this study consists of mixed-methods to assess health literacy levels and preferences for receiving CVD prevention information, this presentation will focus on the recruitment process for the study.

Methods: Participants were recruited from two health care organizations in Denver, CO in order to obtain a more diverse study sample. Human subjects' approval was needed from two institutional review boards (IRB). The original recruitment methods, which consisted of identifying potentially eligible individuals through each organization's EMR system, sending out an introductory recruitment letter with an opt-out postcard followed by a recruitment call, were approved by one IRB and not the other.

Results: After reassessing the allowable recruitment methods, it was decided that recruitment methods would be selected to suit each organization's patient populations. In the HMO setting, the originally proposed methods were used. In the community health care setting, two different methods were used. First, 5 physicians identified patients that were potentially eligible for the study and an “opt-in” introductory letter was mailed out from each of the physicians. Second, in-clinic recruitment was conducted to reach the final recruitment goal. Experiences with using two different recruitment methods and outcomes will be reported.

Conclusions: The results of these recruitment efforts are important in that one must consider and plan for potential changes required by IRBs and the implications of such changes on projects when partnering and conducting research with multiple institutions.