A systematic review of non-randomised evaluations of strategies to improve participant recruitment to randomised controlled trials.

F1000Research
Heidi GardnerShaun Treweek

Abstract

Background: Recruitment to trials can be challenging. Currently, non-randomised evaluations of trial recruitment interventions are rejected due to poor methodological quality, but systematic assessment of this substantial body of work may inform trialists' decision-making about recruitment methods. Our objective was to quantify the effects of strategies to improve participant recruitment to randomised trials evaluated using non-randomised study designs. Methods: We searched relevant databases for non-randomised studies that included two or more interventions evaluating recruitment to trials. Two reviewers screened abstracts and full texts for eligible studies, then extracted data on: recruitment intervention, setting, participant characteristics, number of participants in intervention and comparator groups. The ROBINS-I tool was used to assess risk of bias. The primary outcome was the number of recruits to a trial. Results: We identified 92 studies for inclusion; 90 studies aimed to improve the recruitment of participants, one aimed to improve the recruitment of GP practices, and one aimed to improve recruitment of GPs. Of the 92 included studies, 20 were at high risk of bias due to confounding; the remaining 72 were at high ri...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1991·Journal of Clinical Epidemiology·C A SilagyA M Tonkin
Feb 20, 1998·BMJ : British Medical Journal·B Sibbald, M Roland
May 24, 2003·Applied Nursing Research : ANR·Nana FreretSusan Murphy
Sep 6, 2003·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Julian P T HigginsDouglas G Altman
Sep 9, 2004·Forschende Komplementärmedizin und klassische Naturheilkunde = Research in complementary and natural classical medicine·B C Reeves, W Gaus
Apr 26, 2008·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Gordon H GuyattUNKNOWN GRADE Working Group
Apr 15, 2009·Neurology·W N KernanUNKNOWN IRIS Trial Investigators
Apr 15, 2011·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Jan Odgaard-JensenAndrew D Oxman
Mar 13, 2012·The International Journal of Eating Disorders·Lisa BrownstoneDaniel Le Grange
Mar 22, 2013·Clinical Trials : Journal of the Society for Clinical Trials·Eric S ZhouBernardine M Pinto
Apr 18, 2015·BMC Research Notes·Cynthia PiantadosiRenuka Visvanathan
Feb 23, 2018·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Shaun TreweekHeidi Gardner
Feb 25, 2018·Trials·Shaun TreweekPaula R Williamson

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

SWAT
ROBINS
PROMETHEUS
Google AdWords
MEDLINE
stud
Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.