Challenges of recruiting adolescents for appearance-related research in a specialist tertiary hospital

Gee, Caroline; Williamson, Heidi; Maskell, Jessica; Kimble, Roy; Newcombe, Peter

Abstract

Aim: To discuss the experiences and specific challenges of recruiting adolescents with appearance-altering conditions or injuries for qualitative interviews exploring appearance worry and an acceptability study testing a new online intervention designed to target appearance-related distress.
Methods: Between August 2016 and January 2017, 88 families were invited to take part in the studies. Patients were approached in outpatient consultations at Australia’s largest paediatric tertiary hospital. A final 25 participants were recruited to at least one of the studies.
Results: Successfully recruiting adolescents for research that explored appearance worry was challenging. Environmental barriers in the clinic environment and reluctance discussing appearance-related subject matter impacted clinical staff involvement and participant engagement. Misconceptions about resolving and managing appearance distress also influenced consent.
Conclusions: This paper illustrates the complexities of recruiting young people for appearance-based research in a paediatric tertiary hospital and important considerations for successful recruitment. Recommendations highlight the important of early participant involvement, maximising the support of clinicians with study-specific training, being mindful of first impressions and adopting novel, non-traditional methodology and advertising strategies. Knowledge gained from this paper aims to assist future researchers conduct more successful appearance-based research in paediatric tertiary centres.

• Journal Article Type: Note
• Acceptance Date: Mar 18, 2018
• Online Publication Date: May 13, 2018
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Mar 20, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 13, 2019
• Journal: Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
• Print ISSN: 1034-4810
• Electronic ISSN: 1440-1754
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 54
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 1176-1179
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.13942
• Keywords: visible difference, young people, children, recruitment
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/868660
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.13942
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Gee, C., Williamson, H., Maskell, J., Kimble, R. and Newcombe, P. (2018) The challenges of recruiting adolescents for appearance-related research in a specialist tertiary hospital. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jpc.13942. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.
• Contract Date: Mar 20, 2018