Cost‐effectiveness of recruitment methods in a population‐based epidemiological study: the Melbourne Visual Impairment Project

Abstract

Abstract: The cost‐effectiveness of five recruitment methods was evaluated to determine the best method of encouraging eligible persons to participate in the Melbourne Visual Impairment Project (a population‐based epidemiological study). The evaluation was divided into two phases. Phase 1 included one of two types of initial contact, by direct personal contact or by telephone. Phase 2 involved recruiting residents after an attempt had been made by either the telephone or the doorstep approach, and included a second attempt by a field interviewer, subsequent attempts by senior field staff, and finally, financial incentives. The cost‐effectiveness of each method was determined by dividing the ..