The most optimal school recruitment strategies for school‐based obesity prevention and health promotion research in the United States: A systematic review with Delphi study

Abstract

SummaryThis systematic review with the Delphi study aimed to identify effective and resource‐efficient (optimal) strategies for recruiting schools into health promotion interventions in the United States. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL (EBSCO). A total of 116 interventions reported in 160 articles were included. Most school‐based interventions did not report data regarding school recruitment duration (81%), target school size (63%), and school recruitment strategies (78%). Further, no details were provided regarding the reasons for declining to participate despite being eligible. For the Delphi, responses from 23 researchers in school‐based clinical trials were collected. A qualitative descriptive approach was used for coding responses and collapsed into higher‐order categories based on school recruitment strategies. Delphi participants reported that (1) creating new or leveraging pre‐existing partnerships, (2) intervention champion, (3) minimal school disruptions, (4) working with open mind/flexibility, and (5) transparent communication are the most optimal school recruitment strategies. Staff time and travel were the most frequently reported costs for implementing those strategies. The overall trend in school‐based obesity prevention intervention studies illustrates the importance of a better understanding school recruitment. Improved reporting can allow researchers to budget their time and resources better and provide greater confidence in reaching their target school size.