Motives for (not) participating in a lifestyle intervention trial

We collected data on participants (n = 50) and non-participants (n = 50) who were eligible for inclusion in a comprehensive CVD lifestyle interventional trial. Questionnaires and a hospital patient records database were used to assess socio-demographic, health-related and lifestyle behavioral variables. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to describe the relationship between explanatory variables and study participation. Furthermore, motives and barriers that underlie study participation were investigated by means of questionnaires.Participants were younger, single, had a higher level of education and were employed. No statistically significant differences were found in health measures and behavioral variables. The motives for participation that were most frequently reported were: the perception of being unhealthy and willingness to change their lifestyle. The main barriers reported by non-participants were financial arguments and time investment.The differences between participants and non-participants in a lifestyle intervention trial are in mainly demographic factors. The participants consent in order to alter their lifestyle, and/or because they want to improve their health. To minimize non-participation, it is recommended that access to a lifestyle intervention program should be easy and cause no financial restraints.ISRCTN69776211.The challenge in the recruitment of patients for clinical trials is to minimize non-participation among the target population. Non-participants can have a considerable influence on the external validity of a study [1,2], and make it difficult to meet the goals of recruitment within a specified time-limit and budget [3]. Enrollment rates in clinical trials vary, and obtaining informed consent from patients may sometimes be difficult [4]. Reasons for non-participation that have been reported by patients with heart failure are the perception of being too unwell, lack of transport, being too old, or too busy [5]. Liv