Reconnecting with urban youth enrolled in a randomized controlled trial and overdue for a 12-month follow-up survey

Background Retention of study participants in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is crucial to study validity. Purpose We analyzed the results of four retention strategies used to reconnect with urban teens enrolled in a school-based RCT and overdue for a 12-month follow-up survey. Methods Traditional retention strategies used to reconnect with teens categorized as 'unable to contact' were weekly redials of nonworking telephone numbers and mailings to the student's home. Nontraditional retention strategies were obtaining assistance from school administration and performing outreach on Facebook. Results Of the 422 students enrolled, 125 (29.5%) were overdue for a 12-month follow-up survey, but had no working telephone number (unable to contact). We made 196 attempts to contact these 125 students, of which 82 attempts (41.8%) were successful in 'reconnecting' with the student. Using 'mailed reminder letters' as the referent category, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the association between the strategy used and reconnecting were 4.60 (1.8-11.8), 1.94 (1.01-3.73), and 2.91 (0.58-14.50), respectively, for telephone number redials, Facebook outreach, and school administration assistance. Of the 422 students, 380 (90%) ultimately completed the 12-month follow-up survey. Limitations Retention strategies were not applied hierarchically or systematically. We were unable to determine student preference for a particular strategy. Findings are likely only applicable to similar study populations. Conclusion A mix of traditional retention strategies and more contemporary methods was effective in reconnecting with urban teenagers enrolled in a school-based RCT and in controlling attrition during the 12-month follow-up survey period.