Table 1 Current causes of missing data within the cohort of Health Technology Assessment Programme (HTA)-funded trials
From: Identifying research priorities for effective retention strategies in clinical trials
Causes of missing data | Number of trials (%) n = 49a |
|---|---|
Patients withdrawing | 41 (84%) |
Losing contact with patients | 30 (61%) |
Patients not returning questionnaire | 24 (49%) |
Patient deaths | 23 (47%) |
Clinicians withdrawing patients | 17 (35%) |
Patients not attending a visit/clinic | 14 (29%) |
Missed measurement by clinical staff | 12 (25%) |
Patient outcomes other than death preventing measurement, e.g. coma, too ill to complete measures | 10 (20%) |
Data not provided by clinical staff | 10 (20%) |
Other | 6 (12%) |
Technology problems | 4 (8%) |
Laboratory problems | 2 (4%) |