Streamlining Participant Recruitment for TBI and PTSD Research Studies

ABSTRACTObjectives: Recruitment of participants for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) studies is a major challenge, causing delays in study timelines and even study failures. To address this challenge, the Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine (CNRM) Recruitment Core developed procedures for identification, screening, and referral of participants from screening studies to a broad range of TBI and PTSD studies. Methods: Participants were recruited from civilian hospitals, Military Treatment Facilities, and through various events and presentations. Enrolled participants were referred to other studies during initial enrollment, follow-up visits, or ad hoc as new CNRM studies became active. A centralized online database was used to streamline the eligibility and referral process. Results: As of October 25, 2016, 1,040 enrolled participants from the two screening studies have been assessed for eligibility for active CNRM studies. Referrals have led to 197 total ...