Clinical Research Associate II Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, HJF
Abstract Text:
Introduction: Recruitment of study participants is one of the greatest challenges faced by clinical researchers. Low participant enrollment can result in study delays and failure which wastes valuable resources. The CNRM participant referral program, TBI Research Opportunities and Outreach for Participation in Studies (TROOPS), is designed to expedite and enhance the participant recruitment and referral process through direct self-enrollment via a web-based platform that is accessible from computers, tablets, and smartphones. TROOPS is intended to provide abundant and immediate referrals to CNRM funded and collaborative research studies. Participants enrolled from various backgrounds and locations can be referred within 24 hours of entering the referral program. It includes military and civilian participants, regardless of DEERs eligibility status, and includes healthy controls as well as those with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with or without co-morbid conditions.
Methods: TROOPS is open to all active duty and retired military service members, reservists, guardsmen, dependents, and civilians, 18 years of age or older, regardless of rank, race, DEERs eligibility or gender. Individuals with signs and symptoms of TBI and PTSD are the primary focus.
All information collected is voluntarily self-reported by the participants upon their enrollment into TROOPS, and is used to determine their eligibility for various CNRM funded and collaborative studies. TROOPS staff then track and contact participants that may be interested in and qualify for studies.
Participants have the ability to sign up for the protocol via the TROOPS webpage (TROOPS.CNRM.NIH.GOV), which is accessible on our patient-focused website (www.CNRMstudies.org), CNRM social media pages, and is searchable online. Participants may also be provided the link by CNRM funded or collaborative study staff and through referral from sister organizations, programs, or military treatment facilities, and study teams.
Results: 197 participants have enrolled in the TROOPS referral program. The TROOPS team has referred 217 participants to 14 participating studies since September of 2020, of which there have been 99 enrollments, about a 46% enrollment rate. About 10% of participating studies’ recruitment goals have been provided by TROOPS. 86% of TROOPS participants have a military history and the majority of TROOPS enrollees have a history of TBI, PTSD, or both.
Conclusion: TROOPS furthers the CNRM mission to conduct great science that improves outcomes for service members with TBI, PTSD, and other comorbidities by providing referrals to CNRM funded and collaborative studies through an easily accessible, web-based platform. This referral program improves enrollment for studies, eases the screening burden on participants and study staff, and facilitates CNRM’s participation in multi-center clinical trials.
Disclaimer: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. The views expressed in this presentation are solely those of the presenter and do not necessarily represent those of the Uniformed Services University, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government and should not be construed as such.
Keywords: PTSD, Recruitment, Referrals, Enrollment, Registry, Digital
