Research Study Attrition and Participant-Informed Retention Strategies Among Cancer Survivors
Abstract
Importance Attrition in longitudinal cancer cohorts compromises data completeness, introduces bias, and limits generalizability. Objective To quantify nonresponsiveness over time in a contemporary cohort of cancer survivors, identify individual- and center-level factors associated with nonresponsiveness, and elicit participant-informed strategies to strengthen long-term engagement and retention. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used a mixed-methods design integrating cohort analyses among patients enrolled in a longitudinal study from 2012 to 2018 and a national cross-sectional survey and qualitative thematic analyses among participants enrolled in 2023. Cohort analyses were conducted among patients recruited from the Cancer Toxicity (CANTO) study, a multicenter, prospective, longitudinal cohort of survivors of stage I to III breast cancer, with assessments at diagnosis and years 1, 2, 4, and 6. The national survey was distributed online through the Seintinelles collaborative research network to cancer survivors and individuals without cancer. Remote interviews and focus groups participants were recruited from CANTO. The final analyses were performed in June 2026. Exposure Baseline sociodemographic, behavioral, treatment-related, and center-level characteristics; survey-reported preferences, barriers, and facilitators; and qualitative accounts of participation experiences. Main Outcomes and Measures The outcome of interest was nonresponsiveness at each follow-up, defined as completion of none of the protocol-specified clinical, socioeconomic, or patient-reported outcome assessments. Multivariable logistic regression estimated factors associated with nonresponsiveness. Survey responses and qualitative themes characterized participant-informed retention strategies. Results Among 11 413 CANTO participants, mean (SD) age was 56.4 (11.3) years and 4019 (42.4%) reported a monthly household income of €3000 or higher. Nonresponsiveness increased from 149 participants (1.3%) at year 1 to 1016 participants (9.1%) at year 2, 1738 participants (16.1%) at year 4, and 2512 participants (25.8%) at year 6. Factors associated with higher nonresponsiveness at the 4-year follow-up included lower socioeconomic status (income <€1500 vs ≥€3000: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.51 [95% CI, 1.18-1.93]), unhealthy behaviors (current/former smokers vs never smokers: aOR, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.19-1.58]), and enrollment at smaller centers (vs larger: aOR, 1.88 [95% CI, 1.43-2.48]), with consistent findings at year 6. Among 2383 survey respondents (1295 respondents [55.8%] aged 40-65 years; 2203 [96.5%] female), 1982 (94.8%) preferred remote questionnaire completion, 1994 (95.4%) preferred digital completion, 1606 (67.4%) valued flexible scheduling, and 1494 (71.4%) reported that regular study updates or result-sharing events would encourage participation. Qualitative findings among 30 participants further highlighted reduced burden, decentralized participation, navigation support, clearer communication, and feedback on study progress and findings as key facilitators. Conclusions and Relevance In this mixed methods cohort study of survivors enrolled in a large longitudinal breast cancer cohort, nonresponsiveness increased over time and was socially, clinically, and organizationally patterned. Survey and qualitative findings suggested that participant-centered retention strategies should combine procedural flexibility, remote follow-up, navigation support, targeted communication, and regular feedback and informed the design of a digitally enabled, multimodal retention intervention.
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BibTeX
@article{meglio2026research,
title = {{Research Study Attrition and Participant-Informed Retention Strategies Among Cancer Survivors}},
author = {Antonio Di Meglio and Camila Kelly Chiodi and Julie Havas and Elise Martin and Petya Zyumbileva and Pietro Lapidari and Martina Pagliuca and Mariam Chichua and Emma Gillanders and Guillemette Jacob and Romaine Desjardin and Aude Barbier and Aurelie Bertaut and Diane Boinon and Barbara Pistilli and Anne-Laure Martin and Sibille Everhard and Christelle Jouannaud and Coureche Kaderbhai and Anne Kieffer and Olivier Trédan and Christelle Levy and Olivier Rigal and Matteo Lambertini and Stefan Michiels and Fabrice André and Gwenn Menvielle and Maria Alice Franzoi and Ines Vaz-Luis},
journal = {JAMA Network Open},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.33498},
url = {https://inserm.hal.science/inserm-05758296v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Research Study Attrition and Participant-Informed Retention Strategies Among Cancer Survivors
AU - Antonio Di Meglio
AU - Camila Kelly Chiodi
AU - Julie Havas
AU - Elise Martin
AU - Petya Zyumbileva
AU - Pietro Lapidari
AU - Martina Pagliuca
AU - Mariam Chichua
AU - Emma Gillanders
AU - Guillemette Jacob
AU - Romaine Desjardin
AU - Aude Barbier
AU - Aurelie Bertaut
AU - Diane Boinon
AU - Barbara Pistilli
AU - Anne-Laure Martin
AU - Sibille Everhard
AU - Christelle Jouannaud
AU - Coureche Kaderbhai
AU - Anne Kieffer
AU - Olivier Trédan
AU - Christelle Levy
AU - Olivier Rigal
AU - Matteo Lambertini
AU - Stefan Michiels
AU - Fabrice André
AU - Gwenn Menvielle
AU - Maria Alice Franzoi
AU - Ines Vaz-Luis
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - JAMA Network Open
DO - 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.33498
UR - https://inserm.hal.science/inserm-05758296v1
AB - Importance Attrition in longitudinal cancer cohorts compromises data completeness, introduces bias, and limits generalizability. Objective To quantify nonresponsiveness over time in a contemporary cohort of cancer survivors, identify individual- and center-level factors associated with nonresponsiveness, and elicit participant-informed strategies to strengthen long-term engagement and retention. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used a mixed-methods design integrating cohort analyses among patients enrolled in a longitudinal study from 2012 to 2018 and a national cross-sectional survey and qualitative thematic analyses among participants enrolled in 2023. Cohort analyses were conducted among patients recruited from the Cancer Toxicity (CANTO) study, a multicenter, prospective, longitudinal cohort of survivors of stage I to III breast cancer, with assessments at diagnosis and years 1, 2, 4, and 6. The national survey was distributed online through the Seintinelles collaborative research network to cancer survivors and individuals without cancer. Remote interviews and focus groups participants were recruited from CANTO. The final analyses were performed in June 2026. Exposure Baseline sociodemographic, behavioral, treatment-related, and center-level characteristics; survey-reported preferences, barriers, and facilitators; and qualitative accounts of participation experiences. Main Outcomes and Measures The outcome of interest was nonresponsiveness at each follow-up, defined as completion of none of the protocol-specified clinical, socioeconomic, or patient-reported outcome assessments. Multivariable logistic regression estimated factors associated with nonresponsiveness. Survey responses and qualitative themes characterized participant-informed retention strategies. Results Among 11 413 CANTO participants, mean (SD) age was 56.4 (11.3) years and 4019 (42.4%) reported a monthly household income of €3000 or higher. Nonresponsiveness increased from 149 participants (1.3%) at year 1 to 1016 participants (9.1%) at year 2, 1738 participants (16.1%) at year 4, and 2512 participants (25.8%) at year 6. Factors associated with higher nonresponsiveness at the 4-year follow-up included lower socioeconomic status (income <€1500 vs ≥€3000: adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.51 [95% CI, 1.18-1.93]), unhealthy behaviors (current/former smokers vs never smokers: aOR, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.19-1.58]), and enrollment at smaller centers (vs larger: aOR, 1.88 [95% CI, 1.43-2.48]), with consistent findings at year 6. Among 2383 survey respondents (1295 respondents [55.8%] aged 40-65 years; 2203 [96.5%] female), 1982 (94.8%) preferred remote questionnaire completion, 1994 (95.4%) preferred digital completion, 1606 (67.4%) valued flexible scheduling, and 1494 (71.4%) reported that regular study updates or result-sharing events would encourage participation. Qualitative findings among 30 participants further highlighted reduced burden, decentralized participation, navigation support, clearer communication, and feedback on study progress and findings as key facilitators. Conclusions and Relevance In this mixed methods cohort study of survivors enrolled in a large longitudinal breast cancer cohort, nonresponsiveness increased over time and was socially, clinically, and organizationally patterned. Survey and qualitative findings suggested that participant-centered retention strategies should combine procedural flexibility, remote follow-up, navigation support, targeted communication, and regular feedback and informed the design of a digitally enabled, multimodal retention intervention.
SN - 2574-3805
ER -