The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2021 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2021.1970898 · Published: January 1, 2021
The study addresses the problem of insufficient recruitment in SCI/D research, which limits statistical power. They implemented a Central Recruitment (CR) process to streamline recruitment and consent for inpatients with SCI/D. The CR process involves the inpatient’s nurse affirming suitability for research approach based on fluency, cognition and health stability. Then, a patient research liaison (PRL) provides information, screens for eligibility, and completes the consent process. The CR process adhered to ethical procedures and reduced the burden of having multiple researchers approach each individual inpatient regarding research participation, with high consent rates for low-risk studies.
The Central Recruitment model demonstrates a feasible and effective strategy for improving patient recruitment in rehabilitation research, particularly for SCI/D populations.
The emphasis on ethical principles and reduction of patient burden can serve as a template for other research institutions aiming to enhance recruitment processes.
The success of the pilot study suggests that the CR process can be scaled up to include more complex studies and extended to other clinical populations and settings.