Potential participants who meet the inclusion criteria are invited to participate in the study. Following informed consent, participants complete a graded treadmill exercise test conducted in the Cardiology Department to determine the participant’s exercise status, possible underlying cardiac disease and to outrule any contraindication to participation in an exercise programme. RESULTS During the period November 2006 to November 2007, 394 patients (residing within geographical proximity to Beaumont Hospital) with ABIs < 0.9 were identified from the Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory Segmental Pressures records. Of the 394 patients identified, 271 medical charts were available for review. Seventy-nine of the 271 patients (29%) met the inclusion criteria. One hundred and eighty –seven patients were excluded. Reasons for exclusion are illustrated in Figure 1. Recruitment to Exercise Programmes: Challenges in the Peripheral Arterial Disease Population Guidon M1, Chavira M1, McGee H2, Sheahan R3 and Kelly C4 1 School of Physiotherapy, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; 2Psychology Department, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, 3Cardiology Department, Beaumont Hospital; 4Vascular Surgery Department, Beaumont Hospital INTRODUCTION Current evidence suggests that 27 million people in Europe and North America have peripheral arterial disease (PAD)1. Although only 3% of patients with intermittent claudication (IC) require amputation, a significant number will require hospital admission and other surgical intervention for IC and associated cardiac and cerebrovascular complications. An important aim of exercise therapy in the peripheral arterial disease population is to decrease cardiovascular risk factors and consequent morbidity and mortality. Several studies have demonstrated that exercise programmes result in significant improvements in walking distances but the long-term benefits are unknown. A randomised controlled trial is currently being conducted in Beaumont Hospital to determine the effects of a supervised exercise programme on quality of life, risk factor modification and morbidity and mortality in patients with PAD. AIM This is a report of ongoing recruitment to the trial whereby participants are randomly allocated to either a control or an exercise group. The aim is to determine the uptake to a 12 week (twice weekly) supervised exercise programme and to identify factors which promote and impede uptake. Figure 2. Exercise Testing Outcomes DISCUSSION Although the risk factors for PAD are the same as those for coronary artery disease, individuals with PAD face considerable challenges to exercise due to their symptomatology. Walking is associated with the onset of leg pain and frequent rest periods during walking are required to relieve the pain. To date the recruitment profile in this study population is similar to the recruitment profile for exercise programmes and cardiac failure (CF) populations with a high level of co-morbidity identified3. This highlights the importance of early detection of IC in primary care. The reasons for non-participation in this study are also similar to those in the CF populations i.e. lack of motivation, work/time conflicts, domestic responsibilities and transport difficulties. CONCLUSION Recruitment to this study is ongoing. However these results highlight the significant recruitment challenges presented by this clinical population. In addition to the traditional barriers to recruitment, barriers in this patient population also include a reluctance to exercise due to leg pain, an acceptance of reduced mobility as part of aging and a fear of exercise equipment. REFERENCES 1. Regensteiner J and Hiatt W (2002). Current medical therapies for patients with peripheral arterial disease: a critical review. American Journal of Medicine, 112, 49-57. 2. ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. (2000). Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. 3. Lloyd-Williams et al (2003). Why are patients in cli