When referring to meeting with a person, you may want to use terms such as “I would like to talk with you…” or “I would like the opportunity to tell you about…” and then eventually “I would like to invite you to participate…” Words such as recruit or sign up may be off-putting to some. Rationale: People can be put off if they feel they are viewed as a guinea pig or a subject. Keep it friendly, approachable, and use neutral language. Reinforce to the person that s/he is in control and it is absolutely his/her choice to participate. Rationale: A cornerstone of all human subject research, it is imperative that every potential participant knows his/her rights and that s/he has the choice to participate, not participate, or end participation without any ramifications. This point cannot be stressed enough and you may find it helpful to periodically repeat it several times. Avoid getting caught up in answering a lot of questions on the phone. Suggested script: “Your questions are really important. It might be easier if you and I had a face-to-face conversation. Could we schedule a time when I could come to your home / meet you at the clinic and talk with you about it to see if you are at all interested? After you've had a chance to meet with me, you can decide whether this is something you would like to be a part of? “ Recap: Keep phone call short and only give brief explanation of study. The goal is to schedule an in-person visit. Recruiting Face-to-Face Potential study participants may be approached for face-to-face encounters in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, facilities (SNF/ALF/inpatient hospices) or homes. The following section offers practical strategies to support successful recruiting in these environments (see for a script on first approaching a potential participant as well): Potential Participants receiving care in a Hospital /Facility Ensure that all preparatory work has been completed. Have you reviewed the medical record for initial screening of eligibility? Have you spoken with / received approval from physician to approach the potential participant and invite him/her to participate in a research study?
Acknowledge participant’s voice, what you are hearing: “You sound tired. Has something changed in your world?” Rationale: Participants will often share what is happening. Once s/he has talked about his situation, s/he may be willing to respond to some research questions. Potential script should you start off with some resistance: “Are you willing to answer at least some of the questions for me? “ If s/he agrees, you could then say “Great, but please tell me when you don't want to do anymore. If you want to answer all my questions, that would be great. But you don't have to.” When interacting with the participant, be fully present, listen carefully, and acknowledge each conversation’s nuances. Rationale: It can be tempting to rush through the questions, particularly that are hard to ask and answer. When the data collection visit is rushed, one runs the risk that the participant will just tell you what they think you want to hear or what will make the interview end sooner. If the study participant is irritable or uncomfortable, the CRC may experience something such as “Fine, everything is just fine” or “Let’s just get this done.” Give person the option of stopping – address what you are observing directly. “Is this becoming too wearisome for you?” Whenever possible, have the same person conduct the initial and all follow up visits. Data collection interactions should feel safe and valued. Rationale: This continuity fosters rapport and trust with the participant. People provide richer, fuller data (particularly subjective data) when they trust you, feel like they “know” you, and feel respected. Remember your role – you are to follow the protocol and conduct research the same way, every time, for every participant. Your role is not to diagnose, treat or medically intervene.” When gathering functional status, have some “back pocket” questions that you ask to get an accurate report on their level. See for some sample probing questions that can be used when inquiring about a person’s functional status. End of visit At the end of each / phone call, let the participant know what to expect for the next visit. For example: “I will call you in a week. It will take no more than 10 minutes.” trial