RESUMO
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of digital and traditional methods and strategies in the recruitment of Mexican individuals who smoke into a cessation study. Recruitment method refers in general to either digital or traditional recruitment. Recruitment strategies refer to the particular recruitment type utilized within each recruitment method. Traditional recruitment strategies included radio interviews, word of mouth, newspaper advertisement, posters/banners placed in primary healthcare clinics, and medical referrals. Digital recruitment strategies involved emails and study advertisements through social media (i.e., Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and website. In a 4-month period, 100 Mexican individuals who smoke were successfully enrolled into a smoking cessation study. The majority of participants were enrolled via traditional recruitment strategies (86%) compared to the digital recruitment strategies (14%). Individuals screened in the digital method were more likely to be eligible to participate in the study, compared to the traditional method. Similarly, in comparison to the traditional method, individuals in the digital method were more likely to enroll in the study. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Both traditional and digital strategies made important contributions to the overall recruitment effort.
RESUMO
The purpose of this study was to assesses the effectiveness of proactive and reactive methods in the recruitment of Black and Latino adolescents into a vaping-prevention randomized controlled trial (RCT). This study also assessed the characteristics of study participants by recruitment method. Proactive recruitment strategies included study presentations at community-based events (e.g., festivals, health fairs), school-based events (e.g., back-to-school events, after-school programs), and recreational centers (e.g., fitness centers, malls). Reactive recruitment strategies included study advertisements via social media (e.g., Facebook posts shared by local community-based organizations), word of mouth, and an academic-based research hub. Using proactive and reactive methods, in a 4-month period, 362 Black and Latino adolescents were successfully enrolled into the RCT. Compared to the proactive method, adolescents screened reactively were equally likely to be eligible but significantly more likely to enroll in the study. However, both proactive and reactive strategies made notable contributions to the overall recruitment effort. Moreover, proactive and reactive methods attracted adolescents with different characteristics (e.g., age, gender, sexual orientation, etc.). These findings suggest that both proactive and reactive recruitment strategies should be implemented for studies interested in recruiting a diverse sample of Black and Latino adolescents.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Guatemala lacks cancer prevention strategies and has low screening rates. OBJECTIVE: To assess the history of chronic conditions, risk factors, and cancer screening uptake among three Indigenous populations of Southwestern Guatemala. METHODS: We conducted a health needs assessment. RESULTS: The assessment was completed by 247 adults. Median age was 40 years old (IR: 28-59). Most participants were female (94.3%), of Mayan descent (95.8%), and did not have a primary health care provider (84.2%). Most have never been screened for colorectal (men=100.0%; women=98.8%), prostate (75.0%), breast (90.9%), or cervical (76.9%) cancer, and all have severe tooth decay. However, most participants reported healthy behaviors including being physically active (women=59.7%; men=92.9%), being nonsmokers (women=99.6%; men=78.6%), and not consuming alcohol (women=82.3%; men=46.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Although most participants reported healthy behaviors, there is a remarkable lack of access to cancer screening. An increase in cancer incidence is expected unless cancer prevention efforts are undertaken.