Interventions to improve retention in a surgical, clinical trial: a pragmatic, stakeholder driven approach

Leighton, Paul; Brealey, Stephen D.; Dias, Joseph J.

Abstract

Objective

To explore stakeholder perspectives upon participant retention in clinical trials, and to generate strategies to support retention in a surgical, clinical trial.

Study Design & Setting


The SWIFFT trial is a multi-centre study comparing treatments for the fracture of the waist of the scaphoid bone in adults. Here we report upon a multi-stage, iterative consultative process with SWIFFT stakeholders, these include workshops with members of the public, with nurses involved in data collection, and with consultant clinicians. Structured discussions were digitally recorded and transcribed, data were handled and analysed following a framework approach to qualitative data analysis.

Results

Removing practical barriers were identified as important factors in supporting retention. Stakeholders also identified that i) how well a study is understood and ii) how much it is valued are important factors in an individual’s willingness to maintain their involvement. A number of strategies resulted from this consultation, these include: in-clinic data collection, co-ordinated clinical and research appointments, a SWIFFT website and newsletter.

Conclusion


A participatory approach to trial retention might engage all relevant stakeholders in the delivery of a clinical trial, it might also support the generation of specific and contextually relevant solutions to the challenge of participant retention.

Citation

Leighton, P., Brealey, S. D., & Dias, J. J. (in press). Interventions to improve retention in a surgical, clinical trial: a pragmatic, stakeholder driven approach. Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1111/jebm.12271

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 23, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Jan 22, 2018
• Deposit Date: Feb 21, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 23, 2019
• Journal: Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine
• Print ISSN: 1756-5383
• Electronic ISSN: 1756-5391
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jebm.12271
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/906464
• Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jebm.12271/full
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Leighton PA, Brealey SD, Dias JJ. Interventions to improve retention in a surgical, clinical trial: A pragmatic, stakeholder driven approach. J Evid Based Med. 2018;00:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1111/jebm.12271, which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jebm.12271/full. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.