Table 3 Summary of the recruitment strategy implementation plan
From: Challenges of a community based pragmatic, randomised controlled trial of weight loss maintenance
Task | Priority | Actions taken |
|---|---|---|
Section 1—PICs | ||
Expansion of recruitment territory | High | Local geographical expansion of four more PICs within the remaining recruitment timeframe |
Incentives for slimming world and exercise on referral staff | High | For exercise referral staff, a £20 high street voucher for the best recruiter bi-monthly. For SW consultants, a £20 voucher for every five participants recruited per month. There was also a £20 voucher for the best SW recruiter each month (N.B. GP PICs were reimbursed via NHS support costs) |
Presenting to slimming world | High | Attend SW groups to present study to clients 47 meetings attended. Attend SW regional consultants meetings. 11 meetings attended |
Increased SW HQ involvement | High | Advert placed in SW magazine and email from Head of Nutrition Research at SW to consultants encouraging involvement |
Increased contact with PICs | High | Monthly phone contact with all PICs (n = 75), bi-monthly PIC newsletters, repeat training sessions |
Engage with slimming club on referral from GP practices in South West England | Medium | Not implemented as study closed to recruitment before opening in SW England |
Monitoring PICs | Medium | Monitor poor recruiters for support. Decided against closing them |
Section 2—Advertising | ||
Study website | High | Website live |
Poster displays | High | Posters in non-PIC GP surgeries, local gyms and classes; hospital corridors; community centres |
Local pharmacies | High | Posters displayed in pharmacies in Tesco (n = 26) and Sainsbury’s (n = 27) and local independent pharmacies |
Large local employers and universities | High | 21 companies and six universities advertised study via intranet |
Press releases | Medium | Local newspapers printed two articles Item aired on local radio |
Social media—Facebook and Twitter | Medium/ low | Accounts live and linked to SW pages and other relevant sites |
Section 3—Other | ||
Alter emphasis to target route 1 | High | Altered posters and recruitment drive to focus on route 1 only |
Close monitoring of recruitment rates and monthly recruitment targets | High | Figures examined weekly |
Research network support | High | Area specific strategies given to network staff to implement locally CLRN nurse in Trent trained and engaged with CLRN in South West England |
Establish links with other health professionals | High to medium | TMG members presented at dietetics meetings as well as to gym managers and fitness club managers Specialist weight management clinic advertising study |
Collaborate with other weight loss studies | Medium | Unsuccessful due to lack of studies. |
Maximize use of flagging systems on practice databases | Medium | Unsuccessful due to complexities of various practice systems |
Manage screening process and follow up of route 2 participants | Medium | Contact maintained with route 2 participants but emphasis that they must contact the study team with evidence of their weight loss |
Attend and present at local health events | Low | 2 events attended but little impact on recruitment |
Section 4—actions not pursued (and reasons why) | ||
Use pharmacies as PICs | High | Not pursued due to resource implications involved in training sites |
Complete database searches for PICs | High | Not pursued due to lack of REC approval |
Increase visits to PICs to problem solve | Low | Not pursued due to lack of resource and likely low impact on recruitment rates |
Link in with relevant patient groups | Low | Not pursued as study closed to recruitment |
Target discussion forums/threads on the internet | Low | Not pursued as study closed to recruitment |
Create links with other slimming groups | Low | Not pursued due to SW involvement |
Placing adverts | Medium | Attempted to advertise on relevant internet sites but they were not appropriate/willing Paper, TV and radio—cost proved too expensive |
Identify a local celebrity to champion the study | Medium | Attempted but unsuccessful |