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Published in: Trials 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research

Interventions to improve recruitment and retention in clinical trials: a survey and workshop to assess current practice and future priorities

Authors: Peter Bower, Valerie Brueton, Carrol Gamble, Shaun Treweek, Catrin Tudur Smith, Bridget Young, Paula Williamson

Published in: Trials | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

Despite significant investment in infrastructure many trials continue to face challenges in recruitment and retention. We argue that insufficient focus has been placed on the development and testing of recruitment and retention interventions.

Methods

In this current paper, we summarize existing reviews about interventions to improve recruitment and retention. We report survey data from Clinical Trials Units in the United Kingdom to indicate the range of interventions used by these units to encourage recruitment and retention. We present the views of participants in a recent workshop and a priority list of recruitment interventions for evaluation (determined by voting among workshop participants). We also discuss wider issues concerning the testing of recruitment interventions.

Results

Methods used to encourage recruitment and retention were categorized as: patient contact, patient convenience, support for recruiters, monitoring and systems, incentives, design, resources, and human factors. Interventions felt to merit investigation by respondents fell into three categories: training site staff, communication with patients, and incentives.

Conclusions

Significant resources continue to be invested into clinical trials and other high quality studies, but recruitment remains a significant challenge. Adoption of innovative methods to develop, test, and implement recruitment interventions are required.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Interventions to improve recruitment and retention in clinical trials: a survey and workshop to assess current practice and future priorities
Authors
Peter Bower
Valerie Brueton
Carrol Gamble
Shaun Treweek
Catrin Tudur Smith
Bridget Young
Paula Williamson
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Trials / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6215
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-15-399

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