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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 |
