Strategies to improve recruitment to randomised controlled trials
Cochrane Database of Systematic ReviewsPublished 18 January 2010
Shaun Treweek, Elizabeth Mitchell, Marie Pitkethly, Jonathan Cook, Monica Kjeldstrøm, Taina Taskila
Citations85
SJR quartileQ1
SJR score1.62
SNIP2.04
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TL;DR
Trialists can increase recruitment to their trials by using the strategies shown to be effective in this review: telephone reminders; use of opt-out, rather than opt-in; procedures for contacting potential trial participants and open designs.
Abstract
Trialists can increase recruitment to their trials by using the strategies shown to be effective in this review: telephone reminders; use of opt-out, rather than opt-in; procedures for contacting potential trial participants and open designs. Some strategies (e.g. open trial designs) need to be considered carefully before use because they also have disadvantages. For example, opt-out procedures are controversial and open designs are by definition unblinded.
Keywords
Decision SciencesMedicineHealth Professions
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