Evaluating representativeness: recruitment for a virtual family-based intervention focused on the transition from pediatric to adult diabetes care†.

Abstract

Objective: Recruiting representative samples of youth for behavioral health interventions is challenging yet necessary to translate research into practice and eliminate health disparities. Transition-aged youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) represent a vulnerable population; not enough attention is given to their inclusion in behavioral health interventions. Behavioral Family Systems Therapy for Diabetes Transition (BFST-DT) is an intervention aimed at improving transition readiness and is currently being pilot tested. The objectives of this study are to (1) evaluate the representativeness of the enrolled sample based on demographic and medical characteristics and (2) evaluate recruitment communication preferences.

Methods: Thirty adolescents (Mage = 16.57 years) with T1D and their caregiver(s) were recruited from a large urban hospital. Demographic and medical variables were collected via electronic medical record. Research staff recorded recruitment details about communication attempts and methods and reasons for participation decline.

Results: Those who enrolled in the intervention had more insulin pump usage than the recruitment population. Those who enrolled communicated primarily over email, while those who declined preferred phone. The length of time before a participation decision was communicated was similar between the enrolled and declined groups at about 6 weeks. The main reason for declining to participate was lack of interest.

Conclusions: Recruitment strategies were mostly effective in recruiting a representative sample of adolescents with T1D. Findings have implications for recruiting populations that are challenging to engage in intervention research. Future research should prioritize the stratification of historically underrepresented groups during recruitment.