PROBLEM: In order to understand the risks and protective factors associated with poor health outcomes in adolescent mothers and their children, nurses need to design rigorous longitudinal research. Attrition of subjects can contribute to sampling error. Recruitment and retention efforts need to be optimized. METHODS: In a 4-year longitudinal study with adolescent mothers and their babies, the design for tracking included frequent phone calls, progressive monetary incentives, gifts, and one phone number of an alternative contact. FINDINGS: Of the 97 mother-infant dyads recruited, retention was 54% at 6 months and 38% at final data collection. Successful strategies included persistence in making contacts and utilizing alternative contact numbers. CONCLUSIONS: Retention rates for this study were low. With today's technology, many additional strategies need to be employed to improve retention rates with adolescent mothers.
PROBLEM: In order to understand the risks and protective factors associated with poor health outcomes in adolescent mothers and their children, nurses need to design rigorous longitudinal research. Attrition of subjects can contribute to sampling error. Recruitment and retention efforts need to be optimized. METHODS: In a 4-year longitudinal study with adolescent mothers and their babies, the design for tracking included frequent phone calls, progressive monetary incentives, gifts, and one phone number of an alternative contact. FINDINGS: Of the 97 mother-infant dyads recruited, retention was 54% at 6 months and 38% at final data collection. Successful strategies included persistence in making contacts and utilizing alternative contact numbers. CONCLUSIONS: Retention rates for this study were low. With today's technology, many additional strategies need to be employed to improve retention rates with adolescent mothers.
Authors: Vickie Wu; Nora Abo-Sido; Janice A Espinola; Courtney N Tierney; Kathleen T Tedesco; Ashley F Sullivan; Carlos A Camargo Journal: Ann Epidemiol Date: 2017-06-05 Impact factor: 3.797
Authors: Shannon Gwin Mitchell; Robert P Schwartz; Anika A H Alvanzo; Monique S Weisman; Tiffany L Kyle; Eva M Turrigiano; Martha L Gibson; Livangelie Perez; Erin A McClure; Sara Clingerman; Autumn Froias; Danielle R Shandera; Robrina Walker; Dean L Babcock; Genie L Bailey; Gloria M Miele; Lynn E Kunkel; Michael Norton; Maxine L Stitzer Journal: Subst Abus Date: 2015-02-11 Impact factor: 3.716
Authors: Samantha Teague; George J Youssef; Jacqui A Macdonald; Emma Sciberras; Adrian Shatte; Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz; Chris Greenwood; Jennifer McIntosh; Craig A Olsson; Delyse Hutchinson Journal: BMC Med Res Methodol Date: 2018-11-26 Impact factor: 4.615