Abstract

Participant recruitment and retention are considered to be the most difficult aspects of the research process. This article reports on strategies utilized in the implementation of a school district-wide interventional cohort study of traumatic brain injury in student athletes, and illustrates the obstacles to reaching planned participation goals. The purpose of this article is to:
a.        Identify and explain socio-behavioral barriers to recruitment for studies focused on student athletes;
b.       Underscore the critical need to identify and develop appropriate advocates and school-based policies to protect student athletes;
c.        Increase awareness about the possible long-term and life-long physiological and psychosocial effects of repeated brain injury in order to underline the importance of conducting further research and establishing objective Return to Play Guidelines.

Keywords

Concussion, Head, Trauma, Return to play, Student, Athletes, Injuries, Treatment, Lessons, Recruitment, Outcomes, School, Medicine, Health, Programs