How to Maintain High Retention Rates in Long-Term Research on Addiction: A Case Report
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: High dropout rates threaten the validity of longitudinal studies involving participants suffering from substance use disorder (SUD). The objective of this article is to evaluate strategies to improve retention. The data analysis was based on an ongoing study of long-term recovery of neurocognitive and psychosocial functions. We used traditional strategies to enhance the contact rate. Common factors in psychosocial treatments and biweekly Short Message Service (SMS; text messaging) monitoring were added to further increase the contact rate. The participants (n = 146) were recruited from treatment facilities for SUD. Assessments were measured at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months. This study was successful in retaining a cohort of participants who are typically characterized as having a negative prognosis because of their unstable living arrangements and incomes. Compared to those using GHB, addictive medications, and opiates, the retention rate was the lowest among participants with severe alcohol use disorder (42%).
Institutions: Stavanger University Hospital, University of Pennsylvania
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W2745451285