A methodological study investigating factors influencing the recruitment and attrition of participants in palliative care research.

Background: Clinical palliative care research is challenging because of low recruitment and high attrition rates, although clinical research is much needed to improve the care provided. Aims: To identify key barriers for recruitment and main reasons for attrition in palliative care research. Methods...

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Publicado en:International Journal of Palliative Nursing Vol. 32; no. 8; pp. 1 - 10
Autores principales: Guld, Sofie Fournais, Hansen, Gitte Mølgård, Møller, Anette Torvin, Helledie, Emma, Cekala, Monica, Jørgensen, Brita, Neergaard, Mette Asbjoern
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Mark Allen Holdings Limited Aug2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Aug2026
      vid: 32
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      pub: Mark Allen Holdings Limited
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        10.12968/ijpn.2025.0093
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        atl: A methodological study investigating factors influencing the recruitment and attrition of participants in palliative care research.
      aug:
        au:
          Guld, Sofie Fournais
          Hansen, Gitte Mølgård
          Møller, Anette Torvin
          Helledie, Emma
          Cekala, Monica
          Jørgensen, Brita
          Neergaard, Mette Asbjoern
        affil: Medical student, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
      sug:
        subj:
          Palliative Care Methods
          Research Subject Recruitment Methods
          Patient Dropouts
          Patient Selection
          Frailty Syndrome Physiopathology
          Bias (Research)
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Middle Age
          Aged
          Aged, 80 and Over
          Methodological Research
          Prospective Studies
          Questionnaires
          Hospitals Denmark
          Denmark
          Terminal Care
          Neoplasms
          Patient Participation
          Consent
          Survival Rate
          Descriptive Statistics
          Data Analysis Software
          Chi Square Test
          Mann-Whitney U Test
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Aged: 65+ years
          Aged, 80 & over
          Male
          Female
      ab: Background: Clinical palliative care research is challenging because of low recruitment and high attrition rates, although clinical research is much needed to improve the care provided. Aims: To identify key barriers for recruitment and main reasons for attrition in palliative care research. Methods: This methodological study was based on Danish participation in an international questionnaire study. All patients referred to the specialist palliative care teams at two hospitals between August 2022 and November 2023 were screened for eligibility. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings: Of the 681 patients screened, 236 (34.7%) were eligible for inclusion, and 59 (25.0% of eligible patients) completed the study. The most commonly reported reason for non-inclusion was physical frailty (15.3%). Eligible and ineligible patients differed significantly with respect to diagnosis and median survival, which was 75 days among eligible patients compared with 45 days among ineligible patients. No attrition occurred after enrolment, likely reflecting a restrictive inclusion practice. Conclusions: Systematic screening and direct clinical assessment may support more effective recruitment and help reduce gatekeeping in palliative care research. Implications for practice: Researchers and clinicians should adopt systematic and transparent recruitment processes, minimise unnecessary exclusion criteria and use clinically informed assessments of eligibility to reduce gatekeeping. Using less burdensome data collection methods may improve recruitment, enhance participant retention and increase the inclusivity and quality of palliative care research.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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