Table 8.

Approaches to maximizing participant follow-up

Hire a person to manage and encourage follow-up

Hire personnel to call participants or visit participants at their homes or places of work, if participants are not returning for follow-up

Exclude before randomization those likely to be unwilling to return

Exclude before randomization those likely to move

Obtain contact information to prompt participants to return for follow-up and facilitate location of participant if they do not return

Obtain an identification number, such as a national healthcare number

Establish follow-up venues suited to participants rather than to investigators

Streamline trial procedures to move participants quickly through a follow-up visit

Keep data collection instrument short

Provide excellent and free medical care

Provide monetary subsidies