What is a pilot or feasibility study? A review of current practice and editorial policy.

BMC Medical Research Methodology
Mubashir ArainGillian A Lancaster

Abstract

In 2004, a review of pilot studies published in seven major medical journals during 2000-01 recommended that the statistical analysis of such studies should be either mainly descriptive or focus on sample size estimation, while results from hypothesis testing must be interpreted with caution. We revisited these journals to see whether the subsequent recommendations have changed the practice of reporting pilot studies. We also conducted a survey to identify the methodological components in registered research studies which are described as 'pilot' or 'feasibility' studies. We extended this survey to grant-awarding bodies and editors of medical journals to discover their policies regarding the function and reporting of pilot studies. Papers from 2007-08 in seven medical journals were screened to retrieve published pilot studies. Reports of registered and completed studies on the UK Clinical Research Network (UKCRN) Portfolio database were retrieved and scrutinized. Guidance on the conduct and reporting of pilot studies was retrieved from the websites of three grant giving bodies and seven journal editors were canvassed. 54 pilot or feasibility studies published in 2007-8 were found, of which 26 (48%) were pilot studies of interve...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jun 20, 2012·Families, Systems & Health : the Journal of Collaborative Family Healthcare·Mary J Baker-EriczénSarah McCue Horwitz
Apr 25, 2014·Games for Health Journal·Stephanie M Jansen-KosterinkMiriam M R Vollenbroek-Hutten
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Aug 19, 2011·BMC Medical Research Methodology·Milensu ShanyindeMark Weatherall
Jun 14, 2013·BMC Medical Research Methodology·Georgina CharlesworthIan Russell
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Feb 1, 2014·Games for Health Journal·Tom Baranowski
Mar 22, 2014·BMC Medical Research Methodology·Ellen C LeeSteven A Julious
Mar 22, 2014·Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM·Katherine BradburyGeorge Lewith
Mar 22, 2014·Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research·Joel Kupersmith, David LaBarca
Apr 2, 2014·Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Surgery & Research : OTSR·A Capa-GrasaJ V Martín
Feb 7, 2014·International Urogynecology Journal·Doreen McClurgLucy Dickinson
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