Table 3 Survey responses from corresponding authors who did not report progression criteria in their publication

Survey 3

(n=8)

 Trial planning and design

2 (25%)

 Set up

0 (0%)

 Conduct

1 (13%)

 Analysis

1 (13%)

 Reporting or dissemination

4 (50%)

   Yes

2 (50%)

   No

2 (50%)

   Yes

2 (100%)

   No

0 (0%)

Total

(n=34)

Survey 3

(n=4^a)

Survey 4

(n=30)

 Future definitive trial is feasible

17 (50%)

2 (50%)

15 (50%)

 Future definitive trial is feasible with changes to design^b

15 (44%)

2 (50%)

13 (43%)

 Future definitive trial is not feasible

1 (3%)

0 (0%)

1 (3%)

 Feasibility of the future definitive trial is unclear^b

1 (3%)

0 (0%)

1 (3%)

  ^bDo you intend to do any further feasibility assessment?

   Yes

4 (25%)

0 (0%)

4 (29%)

   No

12 (75%)

2 (100%)

10 (71%)

Did you consider prespecifying progression criteria?

 Yes

10 (29%)

1 (25%)

9 (30%)

 No

23 (68%)

3 (75%)

20 (67%)

 Did not answer

1 (3%)

0 (0%)

1 (3%)

Do you intend to conduct a future definitive trial?

 Yes

22 (65%)

2 (50%)

20 (67%)

  Has funding for the definitive trial been applied for?

   Yes

15 (68%)

0 (0%)

15 (75%)

    Funding awarded

9 (60%)

0 (0%)

9 (60%)

    Funding not awarded

4 (27%)

0 (0%)

4 (27%)

    Application outcome unknown

2 (13%)

0 (0%)

2 (13%)

   No

7 (32%)

2 (100%)

5 (25%)

  What best describes the current stage of the definitive trial?

   Trial planning and design

12 (55%)

2 (100%)

10 (50%)

   Set up

3 (14%)

0 (0%)

3 (15%)

   Conduct

3 (14%)

0 (0%)

3 (15%)

   Analysis

2 (10%)

0 (0%)

2 (10%)

   Reporting/dissemination

1 (5%)

0 (0%)

1 (5%)

   Did not answer

1 (5%)

0 (0%)

1 (5%)

 No

12 (35%)

2 (50%)

10 (33%)