%0 Journal Article
%T Utilizing a patient advocacy-led clinical network to engage diverse, community-based sites in implementation-effectiveness research.
%A Ciupek A
%A Chichester LA
%A Acharya R
%A Schofield E
%A Criswell A
%A Shelley D
%A King JC
%A Ostroff JS
%J BMC Health Serv Res
%V 24
%N 1
%D 2024 Aug 5
%M 39103790
%F 2.908
%R 10.1186/s12913-024-11376-3
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Increased engagement with community-based practices is a promising strategy for increasing clinical trials access of diverse patient populations. In this study we assessed the ability to utilize a patient-advocacy organization led clinical network to engage diverse practices as field sites for clinical research.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>GO2 for Lung Cancer led recruitment efforts of 17 field sites from their Centers of Excellence in Lung Cancer Screening Network for participation in an implementation-effectiveness trial focused on smoking cessation integration into screening programs for lung cancer. Sites were engaged by one of three methods: 1) Pre-Grant submission of letters of support, 2) a non-targeted study information dissemination campaign to network members, and 3) proactive, targeted outreach to specific centers informed by previously submitted network member data. Detailed self-reported information on barriers to participation was collected from centers that declined to join the study.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Of 17 total field sites, 16 were recruited via the targeted outreach campaign and 1 via pre-grant letter of support submission. The sites covered 13 states and 4 United States geographic regions, were varied in annual screening volumes and years of screening program experience and were predominantly community-based practices (10 of 17 sites). The most reported reason (by 33% of sites) for declining to participate as a field site was inadequate staffing bandwidth for trial activities. This was especially true in community-based programs among which it was reported by 45% as a reason for declining.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Our results suggest that this model of field site recruitment leveraging an existing partnership between an academic research team and an informal clinical network maintained by a disease-specific patient advocacy organization can result in engagement of diverse, community-based field sites. Additionally, reported barriers to participation by sites indicate that solutions centered around providing additional resources to enable greater capacity for site staff may increase community-practice participation in research.