Challenges and Facilitators of Recruitment: Lessons Learned from Conducting a Focused Ethnography in a Vulnerable Rural Population

Authors

Debra Kramlich, Duquesne UniversityFollow
Rebecca Kronk, Duquesne UniversityFollow
Karen Jakub, Duquesne UniversityFollow

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe the challenges and facilitators of recruitment encountered in an ethnographic dissertation study of rural women with substance use disorders during the perinatal period. While the study is being conducted in the hospital setting post-delivery, potential participants who meet inclusion criteria are identified by practitioners through a number of perinatal practices within a wide geographic area as well as by inpatient social workers. Recruitment in this vulnerable and often socially disadvantaged population has been found to be challenging with regard to ethical approval, participant eligibility and availability, practice changes, and discrepancies in the recruitment process. The authors discuss these challenges and describe the process of practitioner engagement to facilitate participant recruitment and lessons learned in the process.

Keywords

Ethnography, Vulnerable Population, Socially Disadvantaged, Recruitment Challenges

Author Bio(s)

Debra Kramlich, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNE, is a PhD Student at Duquesne University School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, and an Assistant Professor of Nursing and ABSN Program Coordinator at the Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England, Portland, ME. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to: dkramlich@maine.rr.com.

Rebecca Kronk, PhD, MSN, CRNP, is an Associate Professor and Chair of Undergraduate Programs, Duquesne University School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: kronkr@duq.edu.

Karen Jakub, PhD, RN, is an Assistant Professor, Duquesne University School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to: jakubk@duq.edu.

Publication Date

3-19-2017

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2644

Recommended APA Citation

Kramlich, D., Kronk, R., & Jakub, K. (2017). Challenges and Facilitators of Recruitment: Lessons Learned from Conducting a Focused Ethnography in a Vulnerable Rural Population. The Qualitative Report, 22(3), 818-830. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2017.2644