Enhancing Recruitment Using Teleconference and Commitment Contract (ERUTECC): a stepped wedge cluster randomised...

Area of Science:

• Clinical Trials
• Stroke Recovery Research
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Many randomized controlled trials (RCTs) fail to meet recruitment targets, impacting study timelines and outcomes.
• Recruitment for the Efficacy of Fluoxetine - a randomisEd Controlled Trial in Stroke (EFFECTS) study was slower than anticipated.
• Effective strategies are needed to enhance participant recruitment in clinical trials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a teleconference intervention in improving recruitment for the EFFECTS trial.
• To assess the impact of a structured intervention on participant enrollment in a stroke recovery study.

Main Methods:

• A stepped wedge, cluster randomized study design was employed.
• Twenty low- and medium-recruiting centers participated, receiving the teleconference intervention sequentially.
• Recruitment rates were compared pre- and post-intervention over 60 days, with exploratory 30-day analyses.

Main Results:

• A 10% increase in recruitment was observed at 60 days post-intervention.
• An initial short-lived increase of 23% in recruitment occurred within the first 30 days.
• The intervention showed greater impact in low-recruiting, small, and non-university hospitals.

Conclusions:

• A teleconference intervention can temporarily boost recruitment in clinical trials.
• The positive effect on recruitment was transient, indicating a need for repeated interventions.
• Targeted interventions may be most effective in specific types of clinical trial sites.