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Recruitment and retention of minority participants in the DASH controlled feeding trial

Publication ,  Journal Article
Vollmer, WM; Svetkey, LP; Appel, LJ; Obarzanek, E; Reams, P; Kennedy, B; Aicher, K; Charleston, J; Conlin, PR; Evans, M; Harsha, D; Hertert, S
Published in: Ethnicity and Disease
December 1, 1998

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) study was a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute multicenter trial that compared the impact of three dietary patterns on blood pressure (BP) among adults with high normal blood pressure or mild (Stage I) hypertension. DASH'S high minority representation (two-thirds of the 459 randomized participants came from minority populations, and 60% of the cohort were African American) offered a valuable opportunity to assess factors affecting minority enrollment and retention in clinical trials of lifestyle modification. Recruitment strategies included targeted mailings to specific groups, mass mailings, community and worksite screenings, and mass media advertising; the four DASH clinical centers also reimbursed participants from $150 to $600. The most productive recruitment strategies tended to be mass mailings directed at a broad audience that was weighted toward, but not limited to, minority participants. DASH's African-American participants overwhelmingly (89%) cited health and dietary factors, such as learning more about blood pressure and healthy eating habits, as their primary reason for participating, while only six percent listed the financial incentives as their primary reason for participating. Eighty-eight percent of African-American respondents reported they would participate again in a similar study. The insights from DASH should help inform future efforts to recruit minority participants.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ethnicity and Disease

ISSN

1049-510X

Publication Date

December 1, 1998

Volume

8

Issue

2

Start / End Page

198 / 208

Related Subject Headings

  • Public Health
  • 4206 Public health
  • 4202 Epidemiology
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
 

Citation

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Vollmer, W. M., Svetkey, L. P., Appel, L. J., Obarzanek, E., Reams, P., Kennedy, B., … Hertert, S. (1998). Recruitment and retention of minority participants in the DASH controlled feeding trial. Ethnicity and Disease, 8(2), 198–208.
Vollmer, W. M., L. P. Svetkey, L. J. Appel, E. Obarzanek, P. Reams, B. Kennedy, K. Aicher, et al. “Recruitment and retention of minority participants in the DASH controlled feeding trial.” Ethnicity and Disease 8, no. 2 (December 1, 1998): 198–208.
Vollmer WM, Svetkey LP, Appel LJ, Obarzanek E, Reams P, Kennedy B, et al. Recruitment and retention of minority participants in the DASH controlled feeding trial. Ethnicity and Disease. 1998 Dec 1;8(2):198–208.
Vollmer, W. M., et al. “Recruitment and retention of minority participants in the DASH controlled feeding trial.” Ethnicity and Disease, vol. 8, no. 2, Dec. 1998, pp. 198–208.
Vollmer WM, Svetkey LP, Appel LJ, Obarzanek E, Reams P, Kennedy B, Aicher K, Charleston J, Conlin PR, Evans M, Harsha D, Hertert S. Recruitment and retention of minority participants in the DASH controlled feeding trial. Ethnicity and Disease. 1998 Dec 1;8(2):198–208.

Published In

Ethnicity and Disease

ISSN

1049-510X

Publication Date

December 1, 1998

Volume

8

Issue

2

Start / End Page

198 / 208

Related Subject Headings

  • Public Health
  • 4206 Public health
  • 4202 Epidemiology
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services