Retention strategy category | Description | Booker C, et al. 2011 [8] | Robinson K, et al., 2015 [7] | Abshire M, et al., 2017 [9] | Teague S, et al., 2018 [10] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Contact and scheduling methods | A systematic method for participant contact, appointment scheduling, and cohort retention monitoring is used | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Visit characteristics | Minimize participant burden through characteristics and procedures of follow-up study clinic e.g., flexible appointments, convenient locations. | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Study personnel | Characteristics, training, and management of study personnel | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Nonfinancial incentives | Provide nonfinancial incentives or tokens of appreciation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Financial incentives | Provide financial incentives or payment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Reminders | Provide reminders about appointments and study participation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Special tracking methods | Methods of tracking hard-to-find or difficult participants | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Study description | Explain to participants the study requirements and details, including potential benefits and risks | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Benefits of study | Provide benefits to participants and families that are directly related to the nature of study | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Reimbursements | Provide reimbursement for research related expenses or tangible support to facilitate participation | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Study identity | Create study identity for participants | ✓ | ✓ | ||
Community involvement | Involve community in study design, recruitment, and retention | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Reducing barriers to participation | e.g., offering childcare services, assistance with transport and parking, utilising a participant sub sample to evaluate data collection approaches for the next wave | ✓ | |||
Other methods | e.g., Methods of posting, personalised information letters, length of questionnaire (e.g., shorter) | ✓ |