Can we achieve better trial recruitment by presenting patient information through multimedia? Meta-analysis of ‘studies within a trial’ (SWATs)

Madurasinghe, Vichithranie W.; Knapp, Peter; Eldridge, Sandra; Collier, David; Treweek, Shaun; Rick, Jo; Graffy, Jonathan; Parker, Adwoa; Salisbury, Chris; Torgerson, David; Jolly, Kate; Sidhu, Manbinder S.; Fife-Schaw, Christopher; Hull, Mark A.; Sprange, Kirsty; Brettell, Elizabeth; Bhandari, Sunil; Montgomery, Alan; Bower, Peter

Abstract

Background: People need high-quality information to make decisions about research participation. Providing information in written format alone is conventional but may not be the most effective and acceptable approach. We developed a structure for the presentation of information using multimedia which included generic and trial-specific content. Our aim was to embed ‘Studies Within A Trial’ (SWATs) across multiple ongoing trials to test whether multimedia presentation of patient information led to better rates of recruitment. Methods: Five trials included a SWAT and randomised their participants to receive a multimedia presentation alongside standard information, or standard written information alone. We collected data on trial recruitment, acceptance and retention and analysed the pooled results using random effects meta-analysis, with the primary outcome defined as the proportion of participants randomised following an invitation to take part. Results: Five SWATs provided data on the primary outcome of proportion of participants randomised. Multimedia alongside written information results in little or no difference in recruitment rates (pooled odds ratio = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.79 to 1.17, p-value = 0.671, I 2 = 0%). There was no effect on any other outcomes. Conclusions: Multimedia alongside written information did not improve trial recruitment rates. Trial registration: ISRCTN71952900, ISRCTN 06710391, ISRCTN 17160087, ISRCTN05926847, ISRCTN62869767.

Citation

Madurasinghe, V. W., Knapp, P., Eldridge, S., Collier, D., Treweek, S., Rick, J., Graffy, J., Parker, A., Salisbury, C., Torgerson, D., Jolly, K., Sidhu, M. S., Fife-Schaw, C., Hull, M. A., Sprange, K., Brettell, E., Bhandari, S., Montgomery, A., & Bower, P. (2023). Can we achieve better trial recruitment by presenting patient information through multimedia? Meta-analysis of ‘studies within a trial’ (SWATs). BMC Medicine, 21(1), Article 425. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-03081-5

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 14, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Nov 8, 2023
• Publication Date: Nov 8, 2023
• Deposit Date: Nov 30, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 30, 2023
• Journal: BMC Medicine
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 425
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-03081-5
• Keywords: Information, Randomised controlled trial, User testing, Research methodology, Recruitment, SWATs, Meta-analysis
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/27365273
• Publisher URL: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-023-03081-5
• Additional Information: Received: 12 June 2023; Accepted: 14 September 2023; First Online: 8 November 2023; : ; : The START programme of recruitment strategies was approved by the National Research Ethics Service (NRES) Committee, Yorkshire and the Humber – South Yorkshire (Ref: 11/YH/0271) on 5 August 2011. Host trials had their own approvals.; : Not applicable.; : The authors declare that they have no competing interests.