Top Ten Accrual Strategies

TOP TEN ACCRUAL STRATEGIES

1. Generate and keep trying different recruiting ideas! Different strategies work for different sites. A few ideas are below:

a. Review daily schedule of participants coming in to the clinic –screen for eligible participants and place a schema on the chart for the provider to see.

b. Posters and flyers to keep the words “research” “clinical trial” “study” in front of participants so they see/hear these terms often and become very familiar to them.

c. Brochures can also be used to recruit participants for a particular study. Although most brochures use the same information that is found in the consent form, seeing it in a brochure with friendly colors and easily readable fonts eases fears and also helps family members gain a better understanding.

d. Regular email updates to investigator/sub-investigators informing them of the accrual numbers. Competition not only with each other, but also with other sites can be great!

2. Understand where the participant is in their world—you and the clinical trial are one small piece of it.

3. Begin with the end in mind, but start with what the participant needs to do next----“Here’s what we’re going to do next----labs, scans, etc.”

4. Write your direct contact phone number at the top of the consent form for the participant.

5. Apologize for contrasting formality of consent form versus informality of consent conversation. “I know this feels like you are signing your life away.” or “I know we are wasting some trees with these forms.”

6. “What’s in it for the doctor??” Remember the skepticism of our time. Disclose quickly what the bottom line is for costs to the participant. They often worry and think; “Will this cost me anything extra?” or “Are you making anything off of me?” This question is buried in the 7th, 8th or 9th pages of consent forms and it should be the first question.

7. “What’s in it for the participant??” Think from the participant’s point of view---what is the benefit now and later for the participant. Discuss the treatments in use today are due to proven research done yesterday. Discuss the effects this will have on their children and grandchildren, the next generation.

8. Get nursing support by asking their opinion of the clinical trial prior to opening it. They can help or hurt a trial and getting them on your side or to buy into the trial is priceless.

9. Know the answers to the questions asked. Be competent and confident.

10. Establish rapport with participant and family. It is okay to invest 5 to 10 minutes of your time doing this. Who is the decision maker in the family? It is often not the participant.