Recruitment for an internet-based diabetes self-management program: scientific and ethical implications.

Background: Little is known about the reach of Internet self-management interventions.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate different definitions of participation rate and compare characteristics among subcategories of participants and nonparticipants on demographic and clinical factors using de-identified electronic medical record data.

Methods: Data are presented on recruitment results and characteristics of 2,603 health maintenance organization members having type 2 diabetes invited to participate in an Internet self-management program.