The Use of Technology in Participant Tracking and Study Retention: Lessons Learned From a Clinical Trials Network Study.
The Use of Technology in Participant Tracking and Study Retention: Lessons Learned From a Clinical Trials Network Study.
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DOI：
10.1080/08897077.2014.992565
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发表时间：
2015
期刊：
影响因子：
3.5
通讯作者：
Stitzer ML
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Mitchell SG;Schwartz RP;Alvanzo AA;Weisman MS;Kyle TL;Turrigiano EM;Gibson ML;Perez L;McClure EA;Clingerman S;Froias A;Shandera DR;Walker R;Babcock DL;Bailey GL;Miele GM;Kunkel LE;Norton M;Stitzer ML
即使在低收入和流动人群中，越来越多地使用更新的通信和互联网技术，也要求研究人员更新其外展策略，以确保较高的随访率和参与者保留率。本文介绍了研究助理对使用手机和互联网追踪物质使用障碍治疗多中心随机试验参与者的看法。从美国 10 个参与中心的 21 名研究人员收集了探讨跟踪和其他研究相关活动的访谈前调查问卷。然后，数据被用来构建半结构化访谈指南，该指南又被用来访谈 12 名相同的工作人员。问卷和访谈数据被输入 Atlas.ti 并分析与使用技术进行参与者跟踪相关的新兴主题。研究人员报告说，尽管实际地址和固定电话不稳定，但大多数参与者都拥有手机。大多数手机的来电功能对参与者和研究人员都很有用，而短信被证明还有额外的好处。然而，对参与者手机的依赖也被证明是有问题的。研究发现，即使是无家可归的参与者也可以通过公共图书馆访问互联网，并且可以回复研究人员的电子邮件。一些研究网站开设了通用社交媒体帐户，研究人员通过这些帐户向参与者发送私人消息。然而，机构审查委员会 (IRB) 在某些网站上追踪使用社交媒体的参与者的批准流程极其漫长。通过谷歌、国家付费数据库、讣告和司法网站进行的互联网搜索也是有用的工具。研究人员认为，手机、互联网搜索和社交网站是药物滥用研究中实现高随访率的有效工具。研究应将手机、短信和社交网络网站信息纳入定位表；获得 IRB 批准使用社交网站联系参与者；并将网络搜索、短信和社交媒体的使用纳入员工培训中，作为标准操作程序。
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 multi-site randomized trial of substance use disorder treatment. Pre-interview 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 semi-structured interview guide which, 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. 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 websites were also helpful tools. 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 website information on locator forms; obtain IRB approval for contacting participants using social networking websites; and include web searches, texting, and the use of social media in staff training as standard operating procedures.