Table 5 Strategies to influence participant retention in longitudinal studies
Qualitative Theme | Exemplar Quote |
|---|---|
Sense of meaning and investment | “It would be really fun to create some camaraderie and community among the participants that are doing the research… it would potentially increase and prolong engagement from your participants.” – 34yo API,M “create an idea of ownership within the study itself could be really exciting for participants like, ‘I have some stake in this somehow.’” – 34yo API,M “foster some community between the folks who are all participating so that the participants don't feel like they're by themselves.” – 28yo B,F “Maybe I'm kind of a dreamer here but sort of get people to remember the altruistic part of their life, a part of themselves that said, ‘Oh yeah, I have a duty, and I said I would participate in this, which helps people with lung problems.’” – 31yo API,M “More likely to do it [participate in research studies] when they know, ‘Oh, okay. This is going to help my community because of these three reasons.’ Or, ‘This is going to help me for these three reasons.’” – 27yo API/W,F |
Ongoing communication | “I'd say just communication over time…maybe it's an email update every quarter or every other month, or just something that keeps it on the radar and not forgotten about.” – W,F (age undisclosed) “Gives them an easy way to stay involved and feel involved and not forget about the study.” – 31yo W,M “[I appreciate the study team] texting you little messages with just a prompt, like, "Hey, Miss [NAME]. Thanks for being involved in our study. You have helped us to uncover XYZ for such-and-such such." – 35yo B,F |
Preferred method of follow-up contact | “I get hundreds of emails a day, so they could be overlooked…I think it's easier to talk over the phone. Things could be misinterpreted through text or through email.” – 35yo B,F “You can almost text at any point in time. You don't have to take time away by being on the phone. To me, it's easier than email.” – 31yo W,F “I can respond to a text when I have time. I can get on social media when I have time.” – 26yo W,F |