Table 3.

SPARE trial qualitative recruitment investigation - mapping findings and changes

Key issues	Findings	Changes/recommendations	Aspect of trial changed/recommendation for	Implementation
		Simplified flowchart	PIS and protocol	a Amended and ethical approval obtained
	Difficulty in explaining the trial
		Easy explanation of trial	Recruiter-patient interaction	b Training session
	Randomisation period confusion	Opened up randomisation period	Protocol	a Amended and ethical approval obtained
Aspects of trial design and conduct	Information overload	Two-stage information provision (chemo and post-chemo)	Recruitment and pre-recruitment interactions (also linked to streamlining of pathway)	b Training session b Recruitment appointment tips document
	Complex recruitment pathway	Streamlining of recruitment pathway and information provision	Recruitment pathway	b Streamlining recommendations document
			PIS	a Amended and ethical approval obtained
	Loaded terminology and unbalanced information	Use of neutral terms and equivalent information on both arms
			Recruiter-patient interaction	b Training session b Recruitment appointment tips document
	Patients' strong treatment preferences	Eliciting and addressing concerns/preferences	Recruiter-patient interaction	b Training session b Recruitment appointment tips document
Preferences	Patient preferences influenced by recruiter, and number of people in recruitment pathway	Acknowledging and reflecting on own preferences;	Recruiter-patient interaction	b Training session
		Streamlining and limiting number of people involved in recruitment pathway	Recruitment pathway	b Streamlining recommendations document

^a these changes of the PIS and protocol were done together

^b these aspects were done at various points in the study, but it was not possible to monitor their implementation because of the closure of the trial

The major findings and the subsequent changes and methods of implementation of the qualitative recruitment investigation are shown in Table 3.