Table 1.
Current causes of missing data within the cohort of Health Technology Assessment Programme (HTA)-funded trials
| Causes of missing data | Number of trials (%) n = 49a |
|---|---|
| Patients withdrawing | 41 (84%) |
| Losing contact with patients | 30 (61%) |
| Patients not returning questionnaire | 24 (49%) |
| Patient deaths | 23 (47%) |
| Clinicians withdrawing patients | 17 (35%) |
| Patients not attending a visit/clinic | 14 (29%) |
| Missed measurement by clinical staff | 12 (25%) |
| Patient outcomes other than death preventing measurement, e.g. coma, too ill to complete measures | 10 (20%) |
| Data not provided by clinical staff | 10 (20%) |
| Other | 6 (12%) |
| Technology problems | 4 (8%) |
| Laboratory problems | 2 (4%) |
Survey respondents chose all causes of missing data observed in their trial.aOne person did not complete the question