Recruiting and Retaining Previously Deployed Military Families in Prevention Research: Insights from Two Randomized Controlled Trials

We examined the effectiveness of several recruitment strategies to engage military families in two subsequent, selective prevention trials evaluating an evidence-based parenting program for previously deployed military families (ADAPT: After Deployment, Adaptive Parenting Tools). In the first trial (ADAPT), families were randomized to a face-to-face web-enhanced parenting group or services-as-usual. In the second, currently ongoing trial (ADAPT4U), families were randomized to a face-to-face parenting group, a tele-health version of the program, or an online self-directed version of the program.

Families were eligible to participate if one parent had been previously deployed, had a child between 5-12 years, and were willing to drive to face-to-face parenting groups upon randomization to that condition. Potential participants entered information about how they heard about the study into an online screener survey. The first family member to respond to the screener was included in analyses examining recruitment (ADAPT N=595; ADAPT4U N=174). Participants completed measures of parenting, dyadic adjustment, and child behavior.

ADAPT: Over 900 individuals from 595 families completed the screener. Over one-fourth (27.7%) reported learning about the RCT at a military-sponsored event, 19.3% from military personnel, 16.0% via word-of-mouth, 15.5% from Veterans Affairs letter, 8.4% from media, and 5.9% via Internet search; 394 (66.22%) consented. VA mailings (80.40%) and military-sponsored events (73.94%) were most successful in obtaining consents; media (62.00%) and Internet search (37.14%) were least successful (χ² = 27.53, p < .001). Parents who completed four or more sessions of the program reported higher levels of children’s externalizing behavior t(350)=-3.91, p < .001), internalizing behavior t(351) = -2.98, p = .025, but also higher levels of adaptive skills, t(351) = -3.72, p < .001, than parents who completed three or fewer sessions.

ADAPT4U: 270 individuals from 174 families have completed the screener; this RCT is ongoing. Almost one-third (31.0%) reported learning about the RCT from a VA letter, 23.6% at a military-sponsored event, 19.5% via word-of-mouth, 13.2% from media, and 12.6% from military personnel; 129 (74.10%) consented. Using data collected to date, there were no significant differences in proportion of families who consented by recruitment strategy (χ²=3.95, p=.41).

Results demonstrate the importance of engaging in time and resource intensive recruitment methods to engage military families. Families who report fewer child problem behaviors may not feel the need to engage with prevention programs, which is in line with a selective recruitment approach.