Evaluation of different recruitment and randomisation methods in a trial of general practitioner-led interventions to increase physical activity: a randomised controlled feasibility study with factorial design

Table 5 Participant withdrawals and losses to follow-up by participant recruitment and randomisation method

Intervention arm
	Written advice (N = 44)	Brief advice only (N = 42)	Brief advice plus pedometer (N = 45)
Withdrawn/lost to follow-up^a (n, %)	8 (18.2)	10 (23.8)	7 (15.6)
Recruitment method
	Opportunistic (N = 73)	Systematic (N = 58)
Withdrawn/lost to follow-up^a (n (%))	21 (28.8)	4 (6.9)
% mean between group difference (95% CI)	21.9 (9.6; 34.1)
Randomisation method
	Cluster (N = 102)	Individual (N = 29)
Withdrawn/lost to follow-up^a (n (%))	22 (21.6)	3 (10.3)
% mean between group difference (95% CI)	11.2 (-2.4; 24.9)

^aParticipant is considered withdrawn/lost to follow-up if the follow-up questionnaire and/or pedometer is not returned at 12-week follow-up. CI, confidence interval; sd, standard deviation.

ISSN: 1745-6215