Table 3.
Steps taken by research teams to optimise recruitment and interviewees’ suggestions for improvement
| Strategy | Techniques employed | Suggestions for improvement |
|---|---|---|
|
Preparation and planning |
• Assess feasibility before embarking on a study |
• Create shared research databases of potentially eligible patients |
| • Pre-screen clinic notes to identify potentially eligible patients |
• Increase speed of ethical approval process |
|
| • Establish patient identification centres in surrounding hospitals | ||
| • Ensure research nurses are available to discuss study during patient’s clinic appointment | ||
|
Engendering patient support |
• Research introduced by patient’s doctor |
• Increase public awareness of clinical research |
| • Advertise the study, but also approach patients individually |
• Opt-out systems |
|
| • Explain importance of clinical research for improvements in healthcare |
• More accessible participant information sheets |
|
| • Increase use of information technology | ||
| • Discuss the multidisciplinary team involved in research |
• Support patients without English as their main language |
|
| • Reduce time commitment required and increase flexibility of appointment times | ||
| • Social events for trial participants | ||
| • Increase financial support for participants | ||
|
Collaboration with clinicians |
• Establish integrated clinical and academic teams |
• Greater collaboration with primary care clinicians |
| • Hold research meetings and provide regular updates and feedback | ||
| • Enlist a dedicated study co-ordinator | ||
| • Give prizes for successful recruitment |