%0 Journal Article
%@ 1438-8871
%I JMIR Publications
%V 21
%N 4
%P e11166
%T Use of Rideshare Services to Increase Participant Recruitment and Retention in Research: Participant Perspectives
%A Leavens,Eleanor Ladd Schneider
%A Stevens,Elise Marie
%A Brett,Emma Irene
%A Molina,Neil
%A Leffingwell,Thad Ryan
%A Wagener,Theodore Lee
%+ Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center, 655 Research Parkway, Oklahoma City, OK,, United States, 1 9139728841, leavens@okstate.edu
%K rideshare service
%K recruitment
%K retention
%K attrition
%K transportation
%D 2019
%7 08.04.2019
%9 Original Paper
%J J Med Internet Res
%G English
%X Background: Recruitment and retention of participants are important factors in empirical studies. Methods that increase recruitment and retention can reduce costs and burden on researchers related to the need for over-recruitment because of attrition. Rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft are a potential means for decreasing this burden. Objective: This study aimed to understand the role rideshare utilization plays in participant recruitment and retention in research trials. Methods: Data are presented for a study (N=42) in which rideshare services were utilized for participant transportation to and from study visits during a 2-session, in-laboratory research study. Results: Retention at visit 2 was greater than 95% (42/44) in the initial study. In a follow-up survey of the participants from the original trial, participants (N=32) reported that the rideshare service was an important reason they returned for all study visits. Participants reported whether they would prefer differing levels of additional monetary compensation or a ride from a rideshare service. When the additional compensation was less than US $15, participants reported a preference for the rideshare service. Conclusions: Rideshare services may represent a relatively low cost means for increasing study retention. Specifically, findings indicate that rideshare services may not be crucial for initial participant recruitment but for their retention in multi-visit studies. 
%M 30958268
%R 10.2196/11166
%U https://www.jmir.org/2019/4/e11166/
%U https://doi.org/10.2196/11166
%U http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30958268