Recruitment and Retention of Recreational Runners in Prospective Injury Research: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Purpose: Continuous and long-term prospective monitoring of athletes in natural training environments is essential to provide further clarity on the risk factors for running-related injuries. However, participant recruitment and retention can be problematic. This study aimed to identify factors for facilitating the recruitment and retention of recreational runners in prospective, longitudinal running-related injury research involving running technologies. Methods: Twenty-seven recreational runners (14 female, 13 male) participated across nine semi-structured focus groups. Focus groups were audio and video recorded and transcribed verbatim. A reflexive thematic analysis was undertaken, with a critical friend approach taken to enhance reliability. Results: Incentives, recruiting suitable participants, ease of use of running technologies, an appropriate research design, and good communication practices will facilitate recruitment and retention. Conclusion: Receiving study outputs, evidence-based information and undergoing laboratory testing were identified as incentives, however, researchers need to consider whether these may influence participant behaviour and adversely bias the findings of their study. Researchers should offer participants an option with regard to the type, content, frequency and mode of delivery of incentives and communication. Appealing to potential participants’ personal interests will facilitate initial recruitment, while attempts to ‘feed’ this interest throughout the course of a study will enhance retention. Employing a user-friendly smartphone app and unobtrusive sensor(s), and a research study that can work with runners’ training schedules and technology usage habits, will further facilitate their recruitment and retention.