Answer:
The phase that involves an assessment of issues such as recruitment and retention in the development and testing of a complex intervention is typically referred to as the pilot phase or feasibility phase.
Step-by-step explanation:
During this phase, the intervention is usually implemented on a smaller scale to evaluate its feasibility and gather valuable information before proceeding to a larger-scale study. The main objectives of this phase include assessing the feasibility of the intervention, determining the recruitment and retention strategies, identifying any barriers or challenges, and refining the intervention protocol based on the findings.
In terms of recruitment and retention, this phase aims to understand the effectiveness of the strategies employed to identify and enroll participants into the study, as well as the ability to retain them throughout the study period. It involves evaluating the methods used for participant recruitment (e.g., advertising, referrals, direct contact) and assessing the factors that influence participant engagement and retention (e.g., participant burden, motivation, intervention acceptability). The data collected during this phase helps inform the decision-making process for the subsequent phases of the intervention's development and testing.