The Use of Technology in Participant Tracking and Study Retention: Lessons Learned From a Clinical Trials Network Study.
| Title: | The Use of Technology in Participant Tracking and Study Retention: Lessons Learned From a Clinical Trials Network Study. |
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| Authors: | Mitchell SG; a Friends Research Institute, Inc. , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.; Schwartz RP; a Friends Research Institute, Inc. , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.; Alvanzo AA; b Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , Maryland , USA.; Weisman MS; c The Alcoholic Rehabilitation Center of Hawaii , Kaneohe , Hawaii , USA.; Kyle TL; d The Center for Drug Free Living , Orlando , Florida , USA.; Turrigiano EM; e New York Psychiatric Institute , New York , New York , USA.; Gibson ML; f Eskenazi Health, Midtown Community Mental Health Center , Indianapolis , Indiana , USA.; Perez L; d The Center for Drug Free Living , Orlando , Florida , USA.; McClure EA; g Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , South Carolina , USA.; Clingerman S; h Department of Epidemiology , University of Miami , Orlando , Florida , USA.; Froias A; i Stanley Street Treatment and Resources , Fall River , Massachusetts , USA.; Shandera DR; j Evergreen Manor , Everett , Washington , USA.; Walker R; k University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center , Dallas , Texas , USA.; Babcock DL; f Eskenazi Health, Midtown Community Mental Health Center , Indianapolis , Indiana , USA.; Bailey GL; i Stanley Street Treatment and Resources , Fall River , Massachusetts , USA.; Miele GM; l Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons , New York , New York , USA.; Kunkel LE; m Oregon Health & Science University , Eugene , Oregon , USA.; Norton M; n Midwestern Connecticut Council on Alcoholism , Danbury , Connecticut , USA.; Stitzer ML; o Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center , Baltimore , Maryland , USA. |
| Source: | Substance abuse [Subst Abus] 2015; Vol. 36 (4), pp. 420-6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Feb 11. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: SAGE Publications Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 8808537 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1547-0164 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 08897077 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Subst Abus Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: 2023 : [Thousand Oaks] : SAGE Publications; Original Publication: Providence, RI : Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University |
| MeSH Terms: | Cell Phone* ; Internet*; Patient Participation/*methods ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic/*methods; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic/instrumentation ; Humans ; Social Media |
| Abstract: | Background: The growing use of newer communication and Internet technologies, even among low-income and transient populations, require research staff to update their outreach strategies to ensure high follow-up and participant retention rates. This paper presents the views of research assistants on the use of cell phones and the Internet to track participants in a multisite randomized trial of substance use disorder treatment.; Methods: Preinterview questionnaires exploring tracking and other study-related activities were collected from 21 research staff across the 10 participating US sites. Data were then used to construct a semistructured interview guide that, in turn, was used to interview 12 of the same staff members. The questionnaires and interview data were entered in Atlas.ti and analyzed for emergent themes related to the use of technology for participant-tracking purposes.; Results: Study staff reported that most participants had cell phones, despite having unstable physical addresses and landlines. The incoming call feature of most cell phones was useful for participants and research staff alike, and texting proved to have additional benefits. However, reliance on participants' cell phones also proved problematic. Even homeless participants were found to have access to the Internet through public libraries and could respond to study staff e-mails. Some study sites opened generic social media accounts, through which study staff sent private messages to participants. However, the institutional review board (IRB) approval process for tracking participants using social media at some sites was prohibitively lengthy. Internet searches through Google, national paid databases, obituaries, and judiciary Web sites were also helpful tools.; Conclusions: Research staff perceive that cell phones, Internet searches, and social networking sites were effective tools to achieve high follow-up rates in drug abuse research. Studies should incorporate cell phone, texting, and social network Web site information on locator forms; obtain IRB approval for contacting participants using social networking Web sites; and include Web searches, texting, and the use of social media in staff training as standard operating procedures. |
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| Grant Information: | UG1 DA020024 United States DA NIDA NIH HHS; UG1 DA013034 United States DA NIDA NIH HHS; U10 DA020024 United States DA NIDA NIH HHS; K12 DA031794 United States DA NIDA NIH HHS; U10 DA013034 United States DA NIDA NIH HHS |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Clinical trials; participant tracking; social media; technology; texting |
| Molecular Sequence: | ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01104805 |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20150212 Date Completed: 20161213 Latest Revision: 20200929 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC4532645 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/08897077.2014.992565 |
| PMID: | 25671593 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural