Efficacious strategies to enhance retention rates of African American population: Project CHURCH

Retention of African American (AA) participants in health promotion studies is paramount to decrease health disparities among minority populations¹. Retention challenges for AA participants have been attributed to participant satisfaction, historical mistrust of researchers and rigid study procedures (e.g. site location and appointment times)^2,3. Project CHURCH, a 2 year pilot prospective cohort study, examined the role of behavioral, social, and environmental factors on minority health and cancer-related disparities among a church-based sample. This paper examines the retention strategies used to obtain African American participants in a health promotion study. Project CHURCH enrolled 1501 men (23.6%) and women (76.4%) between the ages of 19–87 years (M=46.5±12.8 years) with 81% reportedly had some college education. Upon the completion of the first year of the study, Project CHURCH retained 95% of the participants. A commitment to the pastoral leadership and community advisory board (CAB), convenient on-site location, flexible appointment times, recurrent financial compensation and access to health information and educational liaison enhanced the retention of Project CHURCH participants. The CAB provided authentic and timely feedback regarding the type of study design most likely preferred by potential participants. Factors identified to enhance retention were linked to participant satisfaction with prompt responses to complaints, excellent customer service and multiple bidirectional communicative efforts such as newsletters and programs. Retention of AA participants in health promotion research is a significant challenge, however future studies should consider culturally competent strategies that increase participant satisfaction, and reduce historical mistrust in an effort to increase retention.