Facing recruitment challenges in studies involving populations like those with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is quite common, and I can understand the frustration you’re feeling. On the Dementia Researcher Podcast we have talked a few times about study recruitment challenges. Here are some approaches and thoughts that might help you navigate this situation:
1. Further Enhanced Recruitment Strategies (I know your time is now limited and you may have exhausted all these options, but see if this is useful):
a. Partner with Clinics and Local GP Practices: These settings often have access to patients with MCI who might be eligible for your study. Partnerships can facilitate easier access to potential participants through referrals.
b. Community Engagement: Reach out to community centres, senior citizen groups, and support groups for dementia and MCI – you have also find Dementia Support Groups of Facebook useful. Presentations or informational sessions about the importance of your research may encourage participation.
c. Social Media and Local Media: Utilise both to increase awareness about your study. Articles or advertisements can raise visibility and interest – I have even come across PhD students who have managed to get themselves on local radio. You could also contact charities such as the Alzheimer’s Society via their social media, so ask if they might be willing to circulate info via some of their groups.
d. Join Dementia Research: Allows UK researchers free access to use their system for study recruitment, they also have a new community space on Dementia Researcher, so you could join this space and ask if others have any suggestions – other recruiting people with MCI may be willing to agree to cross promote studies if they don’t conflict.
2. Adapting the Research Design:
a. Mixed Methods Approach: If recruitment continues to be a challenge, consider integrating qualitative components that require fewer participants but can provide deep insights into sleep patterns and cognitive health in ageing populations.
b. Focus on Healthy Controls: While not ideal, shifting focus as your supervisor suggested could yield valuable insights within a feasible scope. Consider longitudinal designs where fewer participants might be studied more intensively over time.
3. Statistical Approaches to Mitigate Low Power:
a. Adjust the Analysis: Instead of broad comparisons, perhaps focus on more specific, perhaps unexpected patterns or subgroup analyses which might provide meaningful insights without requiring large sample sizes.
b. Bayesian Methods: These can sometimes be more flexible with smaller sample sizes and can provide insights where traditional methods might fail due to power issues.
4. Consult with Statisticians and Other Experts:
a. Bringing a statistician into your discussion can provide new perspectives on data analysis and help refine your approach to manage the data you have more effectively.
5. Documenting the Process:
a. Regardless of the outcomes, documenting your recruitment challenges and how you addressed them is valuable for the academic community. This not only adds to the literature on methodological challenges in your field but also helps you justify your research decisions.
6. Seek Broader Feedback:
a. Sometimes discussing your project with peers or other academics can open up new avenues or solutions you might not have considered. Consider presenting your challenges in research forums or workshops, and in the Dementia Researcher Community.
Remember, encountering and overcoming challenges like this is a substantial part of what makes a PhD valuable—not just the data collected but the learning journey in navigating real-world research problems, so don’t get too disheartened.
Adam Smith
