Table 5 Most commonly reported strategies to improve recruitment (N = 122)
STRATEGY | No. trials |
|---|---|
Newsletters/mail shots/flyers (to clinical staff and/or patients) | 26 |
Regular visits/phone calls to wards/sites/practices | 15 |
Posters/information leaflets in clinics/wards/notes | 13 |
Inclusion criteria changed/protocol amended | 12 |
Presentations to appropriate groups eg at consultant meetings/community based physiotherapists etc | 10 |
Resource manual for site staff/trained staff in disease area/procedures being investigated/role play exercises/study day/workshops for recruiters | 10 |
Advertisement/articles in newspapers/journals; radio interviews | 8 |
Presentations at national/international meetings | 6 |
Employed extra staff | 6 |
Investigators'/recruiting staff meetings | 5 |
Training/information videos | 4 |
Incentives for recruiters eg prize draw, chocolates etc | 4 |
Trial material revised/simplified/customised for specific sites | 4 |
Visits to centres by PIs/senior members of study group | 3 |
Repeated contact by phone/letter to individuals/sites | 3 |
Increased/changed time points when information provided to potential participants | 3 |
Supportive statements from opinion leaders | 3 |