 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
|
| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Ligia Peralta, MD, Junyong Fang, MD, PhD, Constance Husman, CRNP, MS, MSH, Degan Everhart, BFA, Lalitha DeSilva, MD, MPH, Ana Sanchez, BA, and Runa Zabeen Haq, MD, MPH. Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 120 Penn St., Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-328-5465, LPeralta@peds.umaryland.edu
Objective: Recruiting/ retaining female adolescents for research is challenging and explains the gap in knowledge with this age group. Inherent difficulties are compounded when the study is to takes place in a low-income inner city minority community. The present study is undertaking a systematic review of the recruitment/ retention efforts for an ongoing longitudinal study evaluating high-risk behaviors, STDs and contraception in sexually active female adolescents.
Results: A total of 1025 potential participants were approached and 173 were screened eligible. Of these 173 eligible females, 80 were successfully recruited and completed their baseline visit. Of the 80 recruited, 50% were referred by their peers-teens, 36% were recruited by the study case manager and 14% were self referred. This may reflect that this population of 12-18 years old females are influenced more by their peer group for participation in research. In addition, seeking a waiver for parental consent allows the adolescent to choose to involve their parents in these sensitive, sexual issues. We have been able to maintain a retention rate of 95% in this sample population.
Implications for adolescent research: 1) The recruitment of adolescents for this study is 1 in 12. 2) Confidentiality/ privacy is most important to adolescents. Where appropriate, seek parental waiver for consent as a choice for the adolescent 3) Peer/ buddy system fosters recruitment and retention
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescents, Sexual Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.