Recruitment of frail older people to research: lessons learnt through experience

Background. With the emphasis on the need for clinical governance and evide nce-based practice in the healthcare industry there is increasing pressure on researchers to provide tangible research evidence of the effectiveness o f new treatments, interventions and services. Recruiting an adequate size o f sample is an important factor in the success or otherwise of a study to a nswer the research question. Difficulty in the recruitment of older people to research is widely acknowledged. However, much can be achieved to maximi ze the success of this process. Aims of the paper. This paper describes and explores our experience of recr uiting frail, older people to research, with particular emphasis on ensurin g quality in the process of research related to ethical practice. Conclusions. Recruitment of frail older people to research can be a complex process in which the awareness and integrity of the researcher is key in u pholding the principle of nonexploitation. It is important not to underesti mate this difficulty and to ensure that the data collection period is suffi cient to recruit adequate numbers. There is a need to continue to develop a nd refine recruitment skills and strategies to maximize the involvement of frail older people to research while protecting their right to refuse.