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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2009 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: Contemp Clin Trials. 2008 Jul 31;29(6):847–861. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2008.07.006

Table 5.

Recruitment problems/challenges encountered as a result of IRB or HIPAA by Center and project

Center and Study Names IRB Issues HIPAA Issues
Center for Interdisciplinary Health Disparities Research, University of Chicago
Social Environment, Stress and Health Time needed for approval longer than anticipated None
The Boston Puerto Rican Center on Population Health and Health Disparities. Tufts/Northeastern Universities
All projects Required certificate of confidentiality to ask about HIV status None
Institute for Health Research and Policy Centers at University of Illinois at Chicago
Breast Cancer Care in Chicago, All projects Time consuming to prepare submissions and amendments
Difficulty obtaining IRB approval for the pretest and then for change resulting from the pretest.
None; project is exempt at each site because cancer is a reportable disease and by law the Illinois State Cancer Registry can request the data required by the registry at any point.
The Ohio State University Center for Population Health and Health Disparities
Community Awareness, Resources and Education (CARE) Project, All Projects IRB overburdened
Need for IRB approval from multiple institutions
Needed to clarify definition of "engagement in research" by the clinics
Not allowed to use clinic staff as recruiters
Only allowed to submit one amendment at a time
Slow approval of protocol and project materials
Time needed for approval longer than anticipated
Different interpretations of HIPAA and research by clinics and their staff
HIPAA restrictions allowed patient contact only through clinic staff
RAND Corporation Center for Population Health and Health Disparities
The role of parks in physical activity and health None None
Center for Population Health and Health Disparities at the University of Pennsylvania
Biological and Behavioral Predictors of Prostate Cancer None Lack of private space to talk with patients prevents recruitment in order to protect privacy
Determinants of ethnic differences in quality of life following a prostate cancer diagnosis None None
University of Texas Medical Branch Center for Population Health and Health Disparities
Environmental Risk, Coping and Mexican American Health Study None None
The Liberty County Community-based Cancer Control Project None Unable to contact participants directly
Adherence to strict guidelines to avoid perceptions of breach of privacy and subsequent complaints to institutional and government authorities
Wayne State University Center of Urban and African American Health
Exploring Changes in Experiences and Lifestyles (EXCEL) None None
Obesity, Nitric Oxide, Oxidative Stress and Salt Sensitivity Required separate genetic consent None
Women Healthy Lifestyle Study (WHLS) None None