Challenges and Success of Recruiting and Retention for a Culturally Tailored Diabetes Prevention Program for Adults of Mexican Descent

Purpose The purpose of this article is to describe methods used to recruit and retain high-risk, Spanish-speaking adults of Mexican origin in a randomized clinical trial that adapts Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) content into a community-based, culturally tailored intervention. Multiple passive and active recruitment strategies were analyzed for effectiveness in reaching the recruitment goal. Of 91 potential participants assessed for eligibility, 58 participated in the study, with 38 in the intervention and 20 in the attention control group. The American Diabetes Association Risk Assessment Questionnaire, body mass index, and casual capillary blood glucose measures were used to determine eligibility. The recruitment goal of 50 individuals was met. Healthy living diabetes prevention presentations conducted at churches were the most successful recruiting strategy. The retention goal of 20 individuals was met for the intervention group. Weekly reminder calls were made by the promotora to each intervention participant, and homework assignments were successful in facilitating participant engagement. A community advisory board made significant and crucial contributions to the recruitment strategies and refinement of the intervention. Results support the feasibility of adapting the DPP into a community-based intervention for reaching adults of Mexican origin at high risk for developing diabetes.