INTRODUCTION Participant retention is important to maintaining statistical power, minimizing bias, and preventing scientific error in Alzheimer disease and related dementias research. METHODS We surveyed representative investigators from NIH-funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRC), querying their use of retention tactics across 12 strategies. We compared survey results to data from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center for each center. We used a generalized estimating equation with independent working covariance model and empirical standard errors to assess relationships between survey results and rates of retention, controlling for participant characteristics. RESULTS Twenty-five (83%) responding ADRCs employed an average 42 (SD=7) retention tactics. In a multivariable model that accounted for participant characteristics, the number of retention tactics used by a center was associated with participant retention (odds ratio=1.68, 95% confidence interval: 1.42, 1.98; P<0.001 for the middle compared with the lowest tertile survey scores; odds ratio=1.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.30, 1.94; P<0.001 for the highest compared with the lowest tertile survey scores) at the first follow-up visit. Participant characteristics such as normal cognition diagnosis, older age, higher education, and Caucasian race were also associated with higher retention. CONCLUSIONS Retention in clinical research is more likely to be achieved by employing a variety of tactics.

中文翻译：

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阿尔茨海默病研究参与者的保留。


简介 参与者保留对于维持阿尔茨海默病和相关痴呆症研究中的统计功效、最大限度地减少偏差以及防止科学错误非常重要。方法 我们对 NIH 资助的阿尔茨海默病研究中心 (ADRC) 的代表性研究人员进行了调查，询问他们在 12 种策略中使用保留策略的情况。我们将调查结果与国家阿尔茨海默病协调中心每个中心的数据进行了比较。我们使用具有独立工作协方差模型和经验标准误差的广义估计方程来评估调查结果和保留率之间的关系，并控制参与者特征。结果 25 个 (83%) 做出回应的 ADRC 平均采用 42 (SD=7) 保留策略。在考虑参与者特征的多变量模型中，中心使用的保留策略的数量与参与者保留相关（比值比 = 1.68，95% 置信区间：1.42、1.98；与最低三分位数相比，中间 P<0.001调查得分；优势比=1.59，95%置信区间：1.30、1.94；首次随访时最高与最低三分位数调查得分相比，P<0.001。正常认知诊断、年龄较大、受教育程度较高和白人种族等参与者特征也与较高的记忆力相关。结论 通过采用多种策略更有可能实现临床研究的保留。