The Challenge of Censored Participants in Community-Based Research

Overcoming barriers is essential to get more members of underserved populations to participate in clinical research. Adjusting recruitment procedures to fit the lifestyles and routines of the targeted participants is recommended to achieve the goals of Healthy People 2010 and 2020. There is a paucity of research regarding factors that contribute to whether participants follow through after registration. In two community-based prevention education programs for minority women and men, a research team identified some of the factors affecting participation. Individuals were more likely to attend a program after registering for it based on a mix of personal and program variables.