Successful Recruitment Strategies for Engaging Pregnant African American Women in Research

Participation by people of color in research studies is important for generalizability and to mitigate health disparities. Barriers to recruitment are well documented, but less well known is how to succeed. This paper describes successful strategies for recruitment and retention of pregnant Black women for a multisite study of preterm birth. Recruiters provided input on strategies. Participant level strategies include: commitment to being respectful, friendly, and reliable; addressing concerns regarding confidentiality; acknowledging competing priorities; and when possible, matching recruiters by gender and race. Clinical level strategies include: the formation of a good working relationship with the clinical staff; prioritizing clinical care above research activities; and obtaining access to the electronic medical record systems. Protocol level strategies include: a wide enrollment window; coordinating biospecimen collection with the clinical laboratory tests; collecting survey data on an electronic tablet; text messaging; and providing compensation for the time needed to complete study activities.