Table 1 Information requirements to mitigate typical trial recruitment problems
From: Concept and development of an interactive tool for trial recruitment planning and management
Phase | Problem | Desirable information requirements for decision-making |
|---|---|---|
Planning | Overestimation of the number of potential participants who meet the criteria and would be willing to participate in trial | • No existing information available |
Underestimation of the time it takes recruit the required sample size | • Expected trial and site recruitment duration • Information on how expected trial duration changes when trial parameters are changed | |
Not taking variability into account when predicting recruitment duration | ||
Overestimation of the recruitment rate | • No existing information available | |
Recruitment | Latest recruitment information not available to decision makers | • Current recruitment progress for the trial • Expected end-date of trial recruitment • Current recruitment progress for the site • Expected remaining recruitment duration • Information on potential problematic sites • Information on how expected site duration changes when site parameters are changed |
Recruitment information is not presented in a manner that allows necessary decisions to be made |