Strategies to recruit and retain college smokers in cessation trials

Abstract

Techniques to recruit and retain college fraternity and sorority members who reported past 30-day smoking into a cessation trial are described. Recruitment efforts included relationship-building, raffles, and screening survey administration during existing meetings. Surveys were administered to 76% (n = 3,276) of members in 30 chapters, 79% of eligible members agreed to participate, and 76% of those completed assessments and were enrolled in the trial (n = 452). The retention rate was 73%. Retention efforts included cash incentives, flexible scheduling, multiple reminders, chapter incentives, and use of chapter members as study personnel. Retention was not related to demographic, behavioral, or group characteristics. The strategies of partnership, convenience, and flexibility appear effective and may prove useful to investigators recruiting similar samples.

Motivational interviewing for smoking cessation in college students: A group randomized controlled trial

“…Overall, 73% (329/452) completed three or more sessions. Participation did not differ between conditions nor was retention predicted by participants’ characteristics such as gender, year in school, baseline smoking, or motivation to quit (Davidson et al, 2010). …”

“…The organized social system provided an opportunity to maximize recruitment of smokers who were not necessarily interested in addressing their tobacco use, but were supportive of their chapter-sponsored health program (Davidson et al, 2010; Varvel et al, 2008). At screening, eligible students reported smoking cigarettes one or more of the past 30 days, had not used medications to help quit smoking in the past 30 days, were at least 18 years old, expected to be enrolled in college for the academic year, and were interested in participating in a health study.…”

Improving Understanding of the Quitting Process: Psychological Predictors of Quit Attempts Versus Smoking Cessation Maintenance among College Students

“…Recruitment and retention procedures are described in detail elsewhere (Davidson et al, 2010; Varvel, Cronk, Harris, & Scott, 2008). In brief, screening for eligibility was conducted at sororities and fraternity chapter meetings.…”

Analysis of Smoking Patterns and Contexts Among College Student Smokers

“…Students enrolled at a large Midwestern university who were members of social fraternities and sororities were recruited to participate in a health program (Davidson, Cronk, Harris, Harrar, Catley & Good, 2010). Participants were approached during a weekly meeting of their chapter and invited to participate voluntarily.…”