Trial reportBMC medical research methodology2020
Recruitment and retention of participants from socioeconomically deprived communities: lessons from the Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus3) Randomised Controlled Trial.
Trial report in BMC medical research methodology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed, 19 citations in OpenAlex.
- NHS-Galleri trial: Enriched enrolment approaches and sociodemographic characteristics of enrolled participants.Clinical trials (London, England) · 2025Trial
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- Effect of social stressors and social determinants of health (SDOH) on cancer beliefs: Analysis of a cancer center catchment area.Journal of psychosocial oncology · 2026Article
- Characteristics of interventions aimed at reducing inequalities along the cancer continuum: A scoping review.International journal of cancer · 2025Article
- Article
- Article
- Article
- Engaging under-represented oldest old in research: An approach for inclusive recruitment.Australasian journal on ageing · 2024Article
- Time to STEP UP: methods and findings from the development of guidance to help researchers design inclusive clinical trials.BMC medical research methodology · 2024Article
- Reaching the unheard: overcoming challenges in health research with hard-to-reach populations.International journal for equity in health · 2024Review
- Effective interventions to increase representation of under-served groups in randomised trials in UK and Ireland: a scoping literature review.NIHR open research · 2024Article
- Early Years Physical Activity and Motor Skills Intervention-A Feasibility Study to Evaluate an Existing Training Programme for Early Years Educators.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Self-efficacy proxy predicts frailty incidence over time in non-institutionalized older adults.Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2021Article
- Feasibility and acceptability of a community pharmacy referral service for suspected lung cancer symptoms.BMJ open respiratory research · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
20 authors at 7 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundRecruitment of research participants poses challenges in socioeconomically deprived areas. The Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus) phase 3 Randomised Control Trial recruited adult participants from socioeconomically deprived areas using a combined healthcare/community engagement model. We report the strategies used to successfully recruit and retain our trial participant sample.
methodsCommunity and healthcare settings in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation were identified by lay advisors who recruited participants opportunistically or by appointment. Follow-up was done by telephone or post at 2-weeks and 6-months after recruitment, and all participants were offered financial incentives. Qualitative interviews were conducted with lay advisors regarding their experience and reflections.
resultsThe lay advisors identified and contacted 107 potential recruitment venues across South and West Yorkshire and South East Wales of which 41.1% (n = 42) were opened for recruitment. A total of 234 participants were recruited, with 91% (n = 212) retention at 2-weeks and 85% (n = 199) at 6-months. Community settings yielded 75% (n = 176) of participants. Participants had a mean age of 61.3 years and 63.3% (n = 148) were female, with 66% (n = 154) resident in the most deprived geographical areas. Lay advisors described recruitment as intensive, although engaging participants was easier in community settings.
conclusionsThe ABACus3 trial achieved recruitment and high retention with a population that is often "hard to reach" or entirely missed in health research. Strategies were specifically tailored to engage the venues and adult residents of highly deprived areas. Future studies recruiting adults living in the most deprived areas might benefit from community recruitment and from collaborating with local gatekeepers who are key to engagement. This study adheres to CONSORT guidelines.
trial registrationRetrospectively registered with ISRCTN ( http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16872545 ) on 12.01.2018.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.