A "Patient Preference" Model of Recruitment for Research from Primary-Care-Based Memory Clinics: A Promising New Approach

• Published in: Canadian journal on aging 2024-06, Vol.43 (2), p.275-286
• Main Authors: Lee, Linda, Hillier, Loretta M, Patel, Tejal, Gregg, Susie, Hickman, Kathy, Lu, Stephanie K, Lee, Michael, Borrie, Michael J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Clinical Trials as Topic; Dementia - therapy; Humans; Patient Preference; Patient Selection; Primary Health Care
• ISSN: 0714-9808; 1710-1107
• DOI: 10.1017/S0714980823000533

Recruiting persons with dementia for clinical trials can be challenging. Building on a guide initially developed to assist primary-care-based memory clinics in their efforts to support research, a key stakeholder working group meeting was held to develop a standardized research recruitment process, with input from patients, care partners, researchers, and clinicians. Discussions in this half-day facilitated meeting focused on the wishes and needs of patients and care partners, policy and procedures for researchers, information provided to patients, and considerations for memory clinics. Patients and care partners valued the opportunity to contribute to science and provided important insights on how to best facilitate recruitment. Discussions regarding proposed processes and procedures for research recruitment highlighted the need for a new, patient-driven approach. Accordingly, a key stakeholder co-designed "Memory Clinic Research Match" program was developed that has the potential to overcome existing barriers and to increase recruitment for dementia-related research.