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Exploring recruitment barriers and facilitators in early cancer detection trials: the use of pre-trial focus groups

das Nair, Roshan; Skellington Orr, Kate; Vedhara, Kavita; Kendrick, Denise

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Authors

ROSHAN NAIR Roshan.dasnair@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology

Kate Skellington Orr

Kavita Vedhara

DENISE KENDRICK DENISE.KENDRICK@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Primary Care Research



Abstract

Background

Recruiting to randomized controlled trials is fraught with challenges; with less than one third recruiting to their original target. In preparation for a trial evaluating the effectiveness of a blood test to screen for lung cancer (the ECLS trial), we conducted a qualitative study to explore the potential barriers and facilitators that would impact recruitment.

Methods

Thirty two people recruited from community settings took part in four focus groups in Glasgow and Dundee (UK). Thematic analysis was used to code the data and develop themes.

Results

Three sub-themes were developed under the larger theme of recruitment strategies. The first of these themes, recruitment options, considered that participants largely felt that the invitation to participate letter should come from GPs, with postal reminders and face-to-face reminders during primary care contacts. The second theme dealt with understanding randomization and issues related to the control group (where bloods were taken but not tested). Some participants struggled with the concept or need for randomization, or for the need for a control group. Some reported that they would not consider taking part if allocated to the control group, but others were motivated to take part even if allocated to the control group by altruism. The final theme considered perceived barriers to participation and included practical barriers (such as flexible appointments and reimbursement of travel expenses) and psychosocial barriers (such as feeling stigmatized because of their smoking status and worries about being coerced into stopping smoking).

Conclusions

Focus groups provided useful information which resulted in numerous changes to proposed trial documentation and processes. This was in order to address participants information needs, improve comprehension of the trial documentation, enhance facilitators and remove barriers to participation. The modifications made in light of these findings may enhance trial recruitment and future trials may wish to consider use of pretrial focus groups.

Citation

das Nair, R., Skellington Orr, K., Vedhara, K., & Kendrick, D. (2014). Exploring recruitment barriers and facilitators in early cancer detection trials: the use of pre-trial focus groups. Trials, 15(1), Article 98. https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-15-98

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 13, 2014
Publication Date Mar 29, 2014
Deposit Date Jun 8, 2016
Publicly Available Date Jun 8, 2016
Journal Trials
Electronic ISSN 1745-6215
Publisher Springer Verlag
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 15
Issue 1
Article Number 98
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-15-98
Keywords Screening, Cancer, Focus groups, Qualitative, Recruitment, Pretrial
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/724131
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-15-98
Contract Date Jun 8, 2016

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