Poster Presentation Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Conference 2024

The recruitment of adolescents with obesity to a trial of novel dietary interventions: a Fast Track to Health sub-study (#236)

Eve T House 1 2 , Louise A Baur 1 3 , Hamna Ghouri 4 , Clare E Collins 5 6 , Megan L Gow 1 , Hiba Jebeile 1 2 , Helen Truby 7 , Natalie B Lister 1 2 , on behalf of The Fast Track to Health Study Team 1
  1. Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
  2. The Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
  3. Weight Management Services, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
  4. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
  5. School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
  6. Food and Nutrition Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
  7. School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia

Introduction: Novel dietary interventions, such as intermittent energy restriction, may offer a promising treatment option for adolescents with obesity. However, establishing the effectiveness and safety of these interventions requires adequate recruitment of adolescents with obesity to clinical trials. This study describes the strategies adopted to recruit adolescents for the Fast Track to Health (Fast Track) trial.

Methods: From December 2017 to March 2022, Fast Track (HREC/17/SCHN/164) recruited adolescents (13-17 years) with obesity and ≥1 cardiometabolic complication to participate in a randomised controlled trial conducted at two tertiary paediatric centres in Australia. Interested adolescents underwent phone screening, followed by an in-person screening appointment. Recruitment strategies were recorded and the enrolment yield for each strategy was calculated.

Results: Of 308 enquiries received, 141 (45.8%) adolescents were recruited. Referrals from specialists at the participating centres had the greatest enrolment yield (21.2%), followed by referrals from families and friends (6.5%), other doctors (including general practitioners) (3.6%), and social media (8.5% during the 11 months it was used). Recruitment via flyers/posters (1.6%), digital/print media (1.3%), and the study website (1.0%) had a low enrolment yield. 137 adolescents were excluded during phone screening, 60.6% due to either inability to contact or disinterest in participation. An additional 30 adolescents were excluded during on-site screening, 23.3% each due to having no metabolic complications or adult equivalent BMI outside the required 30-45kg/m2 range.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of engaging with local health professionals during trial recruitment. The results also suggest that social media may be a useful strategy to reach adolescents without previous engagement with professional weight management services.