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Dec 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-25-5715
Couture LucyCorresponding author
Recruitment for research studies focused on communicable diseases such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) has historically been challenging, particularly among populations who have been underrepresented in media messaging, yet maintain a significant vulnerability to new HIV cases, like Black women. This study examines the recruitment strategies utilized in Aim 2 of pilot study at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) in Houston, Texas that was funded by the Ujima Mentoring Program to develop, implement, and evaluate a video log (vlog)-based intervention. The overarching goal of the pilot study was to promote the uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among cisgender Black women in Harris County, Texas. Aim 2 involved the creation of a culturally relevant vlog for use in Aim 3, which sought to educate and motivate participants to consider PrEP as an HIV prevention strategy. With the growing role of digital platforms in public health outreach, social media was employed alongside traditional recruitment methods such as flyers and word-of-mouth referrals. Despite an expanded online reach, engagement remained low, and participation rates did not increase proportionally to the number of individuals who viewed recruitment materials. The reluctance to participate was largely attributed to stigma surrounding HIV and concerns about being publicly associated with an HIV prevention study based on participants feedback to the research team. Even the availability of research incentives to encourage participation did not significantly improve recruitment accrual goals, particularly among healthcare providers who experienced limitations with eligibility due to institutional policies. This study underscores the need to better understand the social and cultural barriers that prevent Black women and healthcare providers from engaging in HIV prevention research. While digital recruitment strategies can enhance visibility to a larger audience, they must be supported with trust-building efforts, community partnerships, and culturally competent messaging to encourage meaningful participation. These findings point to the critical need for multi-faceted recruitment strategies that go beyond social media campaigns and actively build trust within communities, ensuring that HIV prevention research and interventions are both accessible and culturally resonant.
Mar 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2642-9241.jrd-22-4132
Wu JianqingCorresponding author
Healthier World (Independent researcher for cause), P. O. Box 689, Beltsville, MD 20704. USA
To understand lung damages caused by COVID-19, we deduced two phases lung damage mechanisms. After the lungs are infected with COVID-19, the affected lung tissue swells and surface properties of pulmonary capillaries change, both contributing to an increased flow resistance of the capillaries. The initial damages are mainly fluid leakage in a limited number of involved alveoli. The increased vascular resistance results in retaining more white blood cells (“WBCs”) in pulmonary capillaries. Some of the WBCs may get into interstitial spaces. When more and more WBCs are dynamically retained, the vascular resistance of pulmonary capillaries further rises; and thus the overall vascular resistance of the lungs rises and pulmonary pressure rises. The rise in the pulmonary pressure in turn results in elevated capillary pressures. When pulmonary capillary pressures around the alveoli are sufficiently high, the elevated pressure causes interstitial pressures to change from normally negative values to positive values. The positive pressures cause fluid leakage to the alvoeli and thus degrade lung function. Tissue swelling, and occupation of WBCs in interstitial spaces and occupation of alvoelar spaces by leaked water result in reduced deformable and compressible spaces, and thus causes a further rise of the vascular resistance of the lungs. When the pulmonary pressure has reached a critical point as in the second phase, the blood breaks capillary walls and squeezes through interstitial spaces to reach alveolar spaces, resulting in irreversible lung damages. Among potential influencing factors, the available space in the thorax cage, temperature, and humid are expected to have great impacts. The free space in the thorax cage, lung usable capacity, and other organ usable capacities are the major factors that determine the arrival time of last- phase irreversible damage. The mechanisms imply that the top priority for protecting lungs is maintaining pulmonary micro-circulation and preserving organ functions in the entire disease course while controlling viral reproduction should be stressed in the earliest time possible. The mechanisms also explain how leukecytes are “recruited and migrated” into inflamed tissues by dynamic retention.
Nov 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-9383.jhhr-17-1787
Allison WilliamsCorresponding author
This paper discusses the challenges in recruiting a diverse sample of caregivers of older adults with multiple chronic conditions in two Canadian provinces – Ontario and Alberta, as well as the successful strategies to overcome these challenges. Four strategies were employed to overcome the recruitment challenges experienced. These included: (1) using a multi-pronged recruitment strategy with persistence; (2) knowing the location of the sample in the community; (3) weekly reporting by team members primarily responsible for recruitment and data collection, and; (4) regular team meetings to build on successful recruitment strategies while troubleshooting new approaches. These four strategies complemented one another. The most effective strategies in Alberta (recruiting over 50% of participants) were newspaper advertisements and working with the Alberta Caregivers Association and the Alzheimer Society of Alberta/NWT. In Ontario, the most effective strategy was door to door flyers (recruiting 61.5% of participants).
Feb 2014 DOI 10.14302/issn.2324-7339.jcrhap-13-211
Gust D.Corresponding author
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
Recruitment of couples is important for study success. The multi-centered HPTN 052 clinical trial was designed to evaluate whether immediate versus delayed use of ART by HIV-infected individuals would reduce transmission of HIV to their HIV-uninfected partners. The objective of this study was to retrospectively compare several approaches for community recruitment at our site in Kisumu, Kenya based on a) feedback from recruitment staff, b) associated cost, and c) number of eligible couples enrolled. A secondary objective was to assess the discordant couples’ acceptability of the community recruitment approaches relative to the a) main recruitment venues, b) educational materials, and c) local language best suited for explaining the trial. 241 couples were screened for eligibility using nine recruitment approaches. We compared the approaches used for the 60 couples found to be eligible to those used for the 56 ineligible couples for whom that information was available. Analyses for association were carried out. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 staff and 29 discordant couples. Records were kept of the costs associated with each approach. Overall, staff interviews revealed that acceptability of the approaches was high. Challenges were present with all approaches ranging from one member of the couple not wanting to reveal their positive HIV status to their partner (Patient Support Center or PSC approach), to not finding people at home (home based counseling and testing or HBCT approach). The PSC and the HBCT recruitment approaches were the most effective in terms of recruiting eligible participants. There was an overall significant difference between the proportion of eligible and ineligible participants among the 9 approaches (χ2 (8) =33.5; p<0.0001). Analyses for association showed that the PSC approach resulted in attracting a greater proportion of couples who were eligible than ineligible (χ2 (1) =6.6; p=0.016). The cost for the PSC approach was less than one-third that of the HBCT approach. All discordant couples interviewed found the two main recruitment venues (PSC and their home) acceptable. Among couples who saw the educational materials, the majority found them useful (poster 72.7%; pamphlet 90.9%; flyer 88.9%). All couples found the language they were told about the study acceptable. The evaluation of recruitment approaches indicated that working with local partners, specifically the PSC staff and HBCT staff, was the most effective way to recruit eligible discordant couples. A focus on collaborations and partnerships between research and clinical organizations will help study recruitment efforts. Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of their respective institutions. Funding for this substudy was provided by the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Feb 2026
DeRoche ChristinaCorresponding author
The current research assessed gaps and barriers related to perinatal mental health service access by parents during COVID-19, as well as service providers’ knowledge and provision of PMAD services, in one Northern community, where rural and remote healthcare is a daily reality, and recruitment and retention of qualified professionals is a significant issue. Two mixed-methods surveys were designed, one to assess PMAD knowledge and service provision via a volunteer sample of service providers, and another to assess PMAD service need and access among a volunteer sample of new parents. Results indicated that many parents waited too long for services, and some parents in need of PMAD services didn’t receive them. Interestingly, higher-income parents were more likely than lower-income respondents to desire services and support for PMADs. Although most providers screened for, were trained in, and treated and/or referred patients with PMADs, they reported feeling as though they were working in silos, unaware of what other providers offered.
Nov 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2577-2279.ijha-21-3925
Kumar Sah SurendraCorresponding author
Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal
Introduction The nose is one of the important component of the face which is considered as the major clue for the ethnic origin. The proportion of the nose is determined on the same principal as that of the skull.The external nose extends the nasal cavities onto the front of the face and positions the nares so that they point downwards. The shape of the nose is pyramidal with its apex anterior in position. The upper angle of the nose between the openings of the orbits is continuous with the forehead. Materials and Methods This study was carried out among residents of Ramnagar Gaupalika-7, Sarlahi,Nepal, one of the core region of Madhesh Nepal dated Jan 2021 to April 2021.The cohort consists of independent adults of age group 17-45 and consenting adults from the metropolis. Ethical approval was sought prior to conducting the study from the supervising ethical committee of the Nobel Medical College Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal. Written consents were taken from the subjects for the recruitment in the study. Results The present study involved 100 subjects of equal males and females subjects of age groups 17-45 years from Madheshis community of Nepal. The table 1, table 2, table 3 below shows the values obtained for different parameters for males and females. The mean value of nasal height for male and female is 52.59±1.89 and 50.27±2.16 mm and the nasal width for male and female is 37.64±1.72mm and 35.42±2.04mm and the value of mean nasal index for both the sexes are 71.59±2.31and 70.58±3.04 respectively. The dominant type of the nasal morphology in both the sexes are the mesorrhine type and the leptorrhine type as well. Conclusion The human nose is a dominant feature in facial region which differs in anatomy and morphology among racial groups and of the most characteristic differences during the analysis of ethnic and racial differences. The dominant type of the nasal index is the mesorrhine type in both the male and female of the Madheshis community. Hence the data obtained here will be useful for the differentiation of different ethnic groups of Nepal as well as in the field of forensic science and rhinoplastic surgery.
Sep 2020
Lanitis AntigoneCorresponding author
City University, Department of Psychology, Northampton Square London, ECIV 0HB
Orthorexia Nervosa (ON) describes a pathological, unhealthy fixation with eating healthy food. This study intends to further understand ON and its possible link to the use of social media, and specifically, to test the prevalence of ON in an opportunity sample with the use of two ON measures – the ORTO-15 and the Tereul Orthorexia Scale (TOS); to use and validate a new ON measure (TOS); to examine the relationship between ON and social media use, with a focus on Instagram users; and to further understand the participants’ interpretations of the possible link between eating patterns and social media use. This study uses a convergent design and a mixed methods approach, which employs both statistical and thematic analysis (TA). Data from 201 participants suggested a high prevalence of ON across the sample, and the results also reinforced the validity of the TOS measure (α = .86). ORTO-15 scores showed significant differences between age groups, genders, and Instagram users and non-Instagram users. The TA generated three overall themes: ‘The Importance of Belonging’, ‘Health as Art’ and ‘Craving’. The high prevalence in the sample may have been a result of the researcher’s recruitment method, and the ON measures may have categorised individuals on non-medically prescribed diets as ‘orthorexic’. Both the quantitative and qualitative results offer evidence to support a possible link between ON and social media use, specifically Instagram. Further research should be done to establish official criteria and measures for ON and the effect of social media on eating patterns.
Mar 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2470-5020.jnrt-20-3231
Patel NaiyaCorresponding author
University of Louisville, Department of Health management and Policy
Health services research is a multidisciplinary field which involves policy makers, health care providers, as well as quality outcomes professionals of the health services provided in an organizational setting to name some. Using qualitative research methodology to get insights of both the provider and patient experience down the pipeline can help strengthen what is lacking. Bridging the gap of translation research by not just surveys 1 might be an appropriate research methodology, however, inclusion of case studies, ethnographies might help stakeholders in the field, to visualize in depth phenomenon occurring in health services research field. Telly medicine, commercial digital health status trackr might be some of the inetrventions to improvise health care services, however, knowing what are the actual needs at individual level might efficiently help in redistribution of resources or policy laws. Recruiting for clinical trials through story telling communication technology2,3, might help in recruitment for novel drug therapies to explore possibilities, however, exploring the barriers to enroll for the clinical trials, or why the drug might work effectively in some cultural population and why not on others, can only be efficiently explored through qualitative research methodologies.
Mar 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-19-2617
K Wood NatsukoCorresponding author
Assistant Professor at Washington State University College of Nursing, Spokane, WA, USA.
Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a home-based educational skill building program to support exclusive breastfeeding for mothers in the early postpartum period. Specific aims were to: (1) evaluate the effectiveness of the study’s recruitment strategy, comparing the use of an intermediary with a direct approach, (2) examine intervention fidelity, (3) examine program adherence, and (4) assess the acceptability of the intervention to participants. Design and Sample A mixed methods within-group, three-occasion descriptive design, delivered to 14 dyads of breastfeeding mothers and their full-term singleton infants. Intervention The program was implemented during three, 60-90 minute educational training sessions in the home, delivered at 6, 13, and 27 days postpartum. Results Mothers who adhered to the intervention protocol correctly attributed their infant’s crying behavior to factors other than the adequacy of the mother’s milk supply. All participants were recruited through direct approach. The program was delivered as planned with high fidelity, a high retention rate, and with a high rate of acceptability. Conclusions A fully scripted, at-home, nurse-delivered educational skill building program can be delivered with efficiency to breastfeeding mothers with full-term singleton infants; intervention fidelity, retention, and acceptability were high.
Apr 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2470-5020.jnrt-16-980
Stein MarcoCorresponding author
Department of Neurosurgery, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In randomized trials on surgical therapy inclusion of the very old was limited by the recruitment process. This study was performed to evaluate the age limits in published surgical trials on ICH, and to determine how upper age limits effect the inclusion of men and women in these and future trials on the basis of a large cohort of ICH patients in central Europe. The Hessian stroke registry, a state-wide prospective stroke databank, was used to analyze upper age limits and sex differences for patients with the diagnosis of ICH (ICD-10: I61.0 to I61.9) who were admitted between January 2010 and December 2012. Sex differences were calculated at different age cutoffs, and the proportions of potentially excluded sex-specific patients from surgical trials on ICH were calculated. Overall, 5184 patients with the diagnosis of spontaneous ICH were identified. A total of 2457 (47.4%) patients were female and 2727 (52.6%) patients were male. Mean age was 72.3 ± 13.6 years. Female patients were significantly older compared to male patients (74.9 ± 13.5 years vs. 69.9 ± 13.2 years; p<0.001). With an upper age limit of 70, 75, and 80 years, 3437 patients (66.3%), 2664 patients (51.4%), and 1765 patients (34.0%) were excluded, respectively. Upper age limits in surgical trials on ICH could lead to the exclusion of a significant portion of patients from studies. This should be noted when transferring conclusions from these trials into clinical practice.