Recruiting older people for research through general practice: the Brief Risk Identification Geriatric Health Tool trial.

Aim To describe successful methods of recruitment and identify practice characteristics related to increased recruitment of older people for a randomised controlled trial. Methods General practices in three regions of New Zealand and community-dwelling patients aged 75+ were recruited for the Brief Risk Identification Geriatric Health Tool trial. General practitioners (GPs) were faxed invitations with telephone follow-up. Reply-paid cards with telephone follow-up were used to invite older people. GP and practice characteristics were examined in relationship to recruitment rate. Results During 2007–2008, 158 of 438 GPs (36%) in 60 of 116 practices approached (52%) were recruited. Regional variation was marked and 3893 of 8308 invited (49%) older people were recruited. The GP's length of time at the practice and training in New Zealand was associated with recruitment success. Conclusions Despite variability in practice recruitment, a reasonably large and representative sample of older people was recruited through general practices.