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PAGE 138 JOURNAL OF VASCULAR NURSING DECEMBER 2001 www.mosby.com/vascnurs addition, although the subjects may sign the consent and participate in the early phases of the study, a certain percentage will be lost to attrition. Some general rules about subject recruitment are as follows: (1) approximately 10% of the population will refuse; (2) approximately 10% will drop out; and (3) approximately 25% of avail- able subjects will participate. 2 Just as a pilot study can help with time management issues, it can also assist the researcher in predicting a response rate and detecting unforeseen recruitment problems. The following measures may improve subject recruitment. During the initial planning stages of the research, talking to persons who have conducted research with similar groups of subjects or who have direct contact with the target population provides information about what methods enhanced their recruitment. Advertisements in newspapers, newsletters, and church bulletins or paying the subjects for their participation may need to be added to the research plan. The literature review is another source that can help to identify recruitment factors. Other researchers’ response rates can be used as guides. Retrospective record reviews help determine the feasibility of recruiting at a site. The records can include charts, department logs, appointment schedules, and surgery schedules. Estimates of the number of patients with the problem being investigated, as well as estimates of how many would fit the inclusion and exclusion criteria should be determined. If the results of the review show that there is a low number of persons with the problem under investigation or most of the persons have an exclusion criteria, additional sites may be needed. Obviously, the more rigid the inclusion and exclusion criteria are, the more difficult it will be to enroll subjects. Also, notation of where the person resides is important for predicting follow-up compliance. Travel distance may increase the cost of participation and be a factor in recruitment. In closing, I have discussed only a few of the realities of man- aging a research study; there are many others. I have often thought that help wanted signs for researchers should read “Patient control freaks wanted.” Control what you can and as portrayed in the anecdote, expect the unexpected. Proactive planning and establishing contingency plans can minimize the effects of problems. And remember patience is a virtue. REFERENCES 1. Gennaro G, Vessey JA. Of street maps, play-doh and office space. Nurs Res 1988;37:68. 2. Findley TW, Daum MC, Macedo JA. Research in physical medicine and rehabilitation VI. Research project management. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 1989;68:288-99. Call for JVN Editorial Board Members The Journal of Vascular Nursing is soliciting interested colleagues to apply for an Editorial Board appointment. Editorial Board members are responsible for reviewing manuscripts for publication in JVN and assisting the Editor as assigned. Qualifications for appointment consideration include: 1. Registered professional nurse. Master’s degree in nursing preferred. 2. Vascular nursing practice experience in areas of education, practice, administration, or research sufficient to develop considerable expertise in the area. 3. Documented writing ability as evidenced by publication. 4. Membership in SVN for a minimum of one year. We invite any interested colleagues to submit a letter of interest and current curriculum vitae to: JVN Editorial Board, 7794 Grow Drive, Pensacola, FL 32514-7072. Please submit your contact information and fields of interest and expertise. All applications will be reviewed.

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PAGE 138 JOURNAL OF VASCULAR NURSING DECEMBER 2001www.mosby.com/vascnurs

addition, although the subjects may sign the consent and partici-pate in the early phases of the study, a certain percentage will belost to attrition.

Some general rules about subject recruitment are as follows:(1) approximately 10% of the population will refuse; (2) approx-imately 10% will drop out; and (3) approximately 25% of avail-able subjects will participate.2 Just as a pilot study can help withtime management issues, it can also assist the researcher in pre-dicting a response rate and detecting unforeseen recruitmentproblems.

The following measures may improve subject recruitment.During the initial planning stages of the research, talking topersons who have conducted research with similar groups ofsubjects or who have direct contact with the target populationprovides information about what methods enhanced theirrecruitment. Advertisements in newspapers, newsletters, andchurch bulletins or paying the subjects for their participationmay need to be added to the research plan. The literaturereview is another source that can help to identify recruitmentfactors. Other researchers’ response rates can be used asguides.

Retrospective record reviews help determine the feasibility ofrecruiting at a site. The records can include charts, departmentlogs, appointment schedules, and surgery schedules. Estimates ofthe number of patients with the problem being investigated, as

well as estimates of how many would fit the inclusion and exclu-sion criteria should be determined. If the results of the reviewshow that there is a low number of persons with the problemunder investigation or most of the persons have an exclusion cri-teria, additional sites may be needed. Obviously, the more rigidthe inclusion and exclusion criteria are, the more difficult it willbe to enroll subjects. Also, notation of where the person residesis important for predicting follow-up compliance. Travel distancemay increase the cost of participation and be a factor in recruit-ment.

In closing, I have discussed only a few of the realities of man-aging a research study; there are many others. I have oftenthought that help wanted signs for researchers should read“Patient control freaks wanted.” Control what you can and asportrayed in the anecdote, expect the unexpected. Proactive plan-ning and establishing contingency plans can minimize the effectsof problems. And remember patience is a virtue.

REFERENCES

1. Gennaro G, Vessey JA. Of street maps, play-doh and officespace. Nurs Res 1988;37:68.

2. Findley TW, Daum MC, Macedo JA. Research in physicalmedicine and rehabilitation VI. Research project manage-ment. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 1989;68:288-99.

Call for JVN Editorial Board Members

The Journal of Vascular Nursing is soliciting interested colleagues to apply for an EditorialBoard appointment. Editorial Board members are responsible for reviewing manuscripts forpublication in JVN and assisting the Editor as assigned.

Qualifications for appointment consideration include:

1. Registered professional nurse. Master’s degree in nursing preferred.2. Vascular nursing practice experience in areas of education, practice, administration, or

research sufficient to develop considerable expertise in the area.3. Documented writing ability as evidenced by publication.4. Membership in SVN for a minimum of one year.

We invite any interested colleagues to submit a letter of interest and current curriculum vitaeto: JVN Editorial Board, 7794 Grow Drive, Pensacola, FL 32514-7072. Please submit yourcontact information and fields of interest and expertise. All applications will be reviewed.