Recruitment and Retention for an Acupuncture Trial in an Underrepresented 65 and Older Population With Chronic Low Back Pain (2025)

Teets, R. Y., Nielsen, A., Mah, D., Beyrouty, M., Handel, M. J., Justice, M., Jyung, H., Eng, C. M., & DeBar, L. L. (2025). Recruitment and Retention for an Acupuncture Trial in an Underrepresented 65 and Older Population With Chronic Low Back Pain. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, 14, Article 27536130251340921. https://doi.org/10.1177/27536130251340921

Teets, Ray Y. ; Nielsen, Arya ; Mah, Donna et al. / Recruitment and Retention for an Acupuncture Trial in an Underrepresented 65 and Older Population With Chronic Low Back Pain. In: Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health. 2025 ; Vol. 14.

@article{209b896c679a40dd8b2480f517146b83,

title = "Recruitment and Retention for an Acupuncture Trial in an Underrepresented 65 and Older Population With Chronic Low Back Pain",

abstract = "Background: The consequences of health disparities in underrepresented populations persist with increased disease burden and reduced access to care. Even with inclusion mandates, underserved populations are poorly represented across trials. This article describes recruitment and retention efforts of an underrepresented population in a large NIH-funded trial. Methods: The BackInAction (BIA) study is a pragmatic, multi-site, three-arm, parallel-groups randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of acupuncture needling for reducing back pain-related disability among 800 older adults (≥65years) with chronic low back pain. The Institute for Family Health (IFH), an FQHC in New York City, one of four BIA sites, provides primary care to largely underrepresented patients. The IFH recruitment goal was 123 participants. PCPs were oriented to trial referral, clinical research coordinators worked as navigators, and electronic health records (EHR) mechanisms were adapted to allow seamless communication between trial acupuncturists and the research team. Results: IFH met its goal of 123 trial participants with sociodemographic (22.8% ≥ 75yrs of age, 72.4% female, 59.4% reported having at least some college education, 62.6% reported an annual household income of less than $25000) and ethnic/racial diversity (39.0% Hispanic, 35.6% Black, 22.0% White non-Hispanic, 26.8% Spanish-speaking). IFH study withdrawal rate was 12.2% with 18.7% missingness in follow-up data rates at the trial{\textquoteright}s 6-month primary endpoint. Conclusion: The IFH site team successfully recruited and retained diverse participants through trusted connections with the study population, building on experience with acupuncture research, engaging PCPs, study team members, primary care clinical sites and EHR communication options.",

keywords = "acupuncture therapy, chronic low back pain, underrepresented older adults",

author = "Teets, {Ray Y.} and Arya Nielsen and Donna Mah and Matthew Beyrouty and Handel, {Marsha J.} and Morgan Justice and Hyowoun Jyung and Eng, {Carolyn M.} and DeBar, {Lynn L.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1177/27536130251340921",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

journal = "Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health",

issn = "2164-957X",

publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",

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Teets, RY, Nielsen, A, Mah, D, Beyrouty, M, Handel, MJ, Justice, M, Jyung, H, Eng, CM & DeBar, LL 2025, 'Recruitment and Retention for an Acupuncture Trial in an Underrepresented 65 and Older Population With Chronic Low Back Pain', Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, vol. 14, 27536130251340921. https://doi.org/10.1177/27536130251340921

Recruitment and Retention for an Acupuncture Trial in an Underrepresented 65 and Older Population With Chronic Low Back Pain. / Teets, Ray Y.; Nielsen, Arya; Mah, Donna et al.
In: Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health, Vol. 14, 27536130251340921, 01.01.2025.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Recruitment and Retention for an Acupuncture Trial in an Underrepresented 65 and Older Population With Chronic Low Back Pain

AU - Teets, Ray Y.

AU - Nielsen, Arya

AU - Mah, Donna

AU - Beyrouty, Matthew

AU - Handel, Marsha J.

AU - Justice, Morgan

AU - Jyung, Hyowoun

AU - Eng, Carolyn M.

AU - DeBar, Lynn L.

N1 - Publisher Copyright:© The Author(s) 2025.

PY - 2025/1/1

Y1 - 2025/1/1

N2 - Background: The consequences of health disparities in underrepresented populations persist with increased disease burden and reduced access to care. Even with inclusion mandates, underserved populations are poorly represented across trials. This article describes recruitment and retention efforts of an underrepresented population in a large NIH-funded trial. Methods: The BackInAction (BIA) study is a pragmatic, multi-site, three-arm, parallel-groups randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of acupuncture needling for reducing back pain-related disability among 800 older adults (≥65years) with chronic low back pain. The Institute for Family Health (IFH), an FQHC in New York City, one of four BIA sites, provides primary care to largely underrepresented patients. The IFH recruitment goal was 123 participants. PCPs were oriented to trial referral, clinical research coordinators worked as navigators, and electronic health records (EHR) mechanisms were adapted to allow seamless communication between trial acupuncturists and the research team. Results: IFH met its goal of 123 trial participants with sociodemographic (22.8% ≥ 75yrs of age, 72.4% female, 59.4% reported having at least some college education, 62.6% reported an annual household income of less than $25000) and ethnic/racial diversity (39.0% Hispanic, 35.6% Black, 22.0% White non-Hispanic, 26.8% Spanish-speaking). IFH study withdrawal rate was 12.2% with 18.7% missingness in follow-up data rates at the trial’s 6-month primary endpoint. Conclusion: The IFH site team successfully recruited and retained diverse participants through trusted connections with the study population, building on experience with acupuncture research, engaging PCPs, study team members, primary care clinical sites and EHR communication options.

AB - Background: The consequences of health disparities in underrepresented populations persist with increased disease burden and reduced access to care. Even with inclusion mandates, underserved populations are poorly represented across trials. This article describes recruitment and retention efforts of an underrepresented population in a large NIH-funded trial. Methods: The BackInAction (BIA) study is a pragmatic, multi-site, three-arm, parallel-groups randomized controlled trial testing the effectiveness of acupuncture needling for reducing back pain-related disability among 800 older adults (≥65years) with chronic low back pain. The Institute for Family Health (IFH), an FQHC in New York City, one of four BIA sites, provides primary care to largely underrepresented patients. The IFH recruitment goal was 123 participants. PCPs were oriented to trial referral, clinical research coordinators worked as navigators, and electronic health records (EHR) mechanisms were adapted to allow seamless communication between trial acupuncturists and the research team. Results: IFH met its goal of 123 trial participants with sociodemographic (22.8% ≥ 75yrs of age, 72.4% female, 59.4% reported having at least some college education, 62.6% reported an annual household income of less than $25000) and ethnic/racial diversity (39.0% Hispanic, 35.6% Black, 22.0% White non-Hispanic, 26.8% Spanish-speaking). IFH study withdrawal rate was 12.2% with 18.7% missingness in follow-up data rates at the trial’s 6-month primary endpoint. Conclusion: The IFH site team successfully recruited and retained diverse participants through trusted connections with the study population, building on experience with acupuncture research, engaging PCPs, study team members, primary care clinical sites and EHR communication options.

KW - acupuncture therapy

KW - chronic low back pain

KW - underrepresented older adults

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DO - 10.1177/27536130251340921

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JO - Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health

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Teets RY, Nielsen A, Mah D, Beyrouty M, Handel MJ, Justice M et al. Recruitment and Retention for an Acupuncture Trial in an Underrepresented 65 and Older Population With Chronic Low Back Pain. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health. 2025 Jan 1;14:27536130251340921. doi: 10.1177/27536130251340921