Recruiting in intervention studies: challenges and solutions

Introduction In order for study results to be relevant for practice, the study participants should represent the source population. A common problem is recruitment of sufficient and representative subjects, threatening the external validity of the study and, ultimately, evidence-based practice. The...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elisabeth Björk Brämberg, Lydia Kwak, Iben Axén, Anders Galaasen Bakken
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021-01-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/1/e044702.full
Description
Summary:Introduction In order for study results to be relevant for practice, the study participants should represent the source population. A common problem is recruitment of sufficient and representative subjects, threatening the external validity of the study and, ultimately, evidence-based practice. The aim was to highlight common challenges and to present possible solutions to recruitment.Methods Using four recent randomised controlled trials as examples, common recruitment challenges were highlighted and solutions were proposed. The four studies represented some common and some specific challenges, but they investigated interventions for the prevention of the two major public health challenges of today: musculoskeletal pain and common mental disorders.Results Identified challenges and suggested solutions were presented as a checklist to be used for future trials in order to aid recruitment and reporting thereof.
ISSN:2044-6055