Recruitment and retention of participants in prevention trials involving family-based interventions

Family-based preventive intervention trials in the area of child conduct pr oblems face serious challenges regarding the recruitment and subsequent ret ention of participants. This article focuses on the problems and strategies pertinent to recruitment and retention in prevention research. The issues are discussed first with respect to initiating and maintaining a longitudin al sample, and then engaging and sustaining families in a preventive interv ention. General principles are illustrated by EARLY ALLIANCE, a recently la unched preventive intervention trial aimed at reducing children's risk for conduct disorder, substance abuse, and school failure. Recommendations for enhancing recruitment and retention are offered.