Methodological challenges and issues of recruiting for mental health and substance use disorders trials in primary care

Background
Poor recruitment to controlled trials is a frequently
reported problem. Challenges related to study design,
communication, participants, interventions, outcomes,
and clinician workload hinder recruitment, and the
effectiveness of interventions used by trialists to increase
recruitment rates is unknown.
Objectives
To explore the methodological challenges and issues in
recruiting for mental health and substance use disorder
trials in primary care, and to consider how these methodological
challenges can be addressed.
Method
The presentation will recount the authors’ experience of
recruiting for cluster randomized trials in primary care.
Methodological challenges, such as clarity of instruction,
patient characteristics, patient-doctor relationship, effects
of intervention on patients and clinic, and personal benefits
for clinicians will be described. The authors will consider
how these might relate to and be used for peer
learning and peer support in primary care research.
Conclusion
The presentation will conclude with an overview of how
lessons learned from past studies may be used to improve
recruitment for trials of mental health and substance use
disorders in primary care.