Can we achieve better trial recruitment by presenting patient information through multimedia? Meta-analysis of 'studies within a trial' (SWATs)

Vichithranie W Madurasinghe; Peter Knapp; Sandra Eldridge; David Collier; Shaun Treweek; Jo Rick; Jonathan Graffy; Adwoa Parker; Chris Salisbury; David Torgerson; Kate Jolly; Manbinder S Sidhu; Christopher Fife-Schaw; Mark A Hull; Kirsty Sprange; Elizabeth Brettell; Sunil Bhandari; Alan Montgomery; Peter Bower

doi:10.1186/s12916-023-03081-5

Can we achieve better trial recruitment by presenting patient information through multimedia? Meta-analysis of 'studies within a trial' (SWATs)

BMC Med. 2023 Nov 8;21(1):425. doi: 10.1186/s12916-023-03081-5.

Authors

Vichithranie W Madurasinghe¹, Peter Knapp², Sandra Eldridge³, David Collier⁴, Shaun Treweek⁵, Jo Rick⁶, Jonathan Graffy⁷, Adwoa Parker⁸, Chris Salisbury⁹, David Torgerson¹⁰, Kate Jolly¹¹, Manbinder S Sidhu¹², Christopher Fife-Schaw¹³, Mark A Hull¹⁴, Kirsty Sprange¹⁵, Elizabeth Brettell¹⁶, Sunil Bhandari¹⁷, Alan Montgomery¹⁵, Peter Bower¹⁸

Affiliations

¹ Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Richard Doll Building, Old Road Campus, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK.
² Department of Health Sciences, University of York & the Hull York Medical School, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
³ Centre for Clinical Trials and Methodology, Institute of Population Health Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, 58 Turner Street, London, E1 2AB, UK.
⁴ Barts NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
⁵ Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, 3Rd Floor, Health Sciences Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK.
⁶ National Institute of Health Research School for Primary Care Research, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Centre for Primary Care, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
⁷ General Practitioner Arbury Road Surgery 114, Arbury Road, Cambridge, CB4 2JG, UK.
⁸ York Trials Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
⁹ Centre for Academic Primary Care, Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK.
¹⁰ Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
¹¹ Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
¹² Health Services Management Centre, School of Social Policy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2RT, UK.
¹³ University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
¹⁴ Leeds Institute of Medical Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS9 7TF, UK.
¹⁵ Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
¹⁶ Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
¹⁷ Department of Renal Medicine, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and Hull York Medical School, Hull, East Yorkshire, HU3 2JZ, UK.
¹⁸ NIHR School for Primary Care Research, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK. [email protected].

Abstract

Background: People need high-quality information to make decisions about research participation. Providing information in written format alone is conventional but may not be the most effective and acceptable approach. We developed a structure for the presentation of information using multimedia which included generic and trial-specific content. Our aim was to embed 'Studies Within A Trial' (SWATs) across multiple ongoing trials to test whether multimedia presentation of patient information led to better rates of recruitment.

Methods: Five trials included a SWAT and randomised their participants to receive a multimedia presentation alongside standard information, or standard written information alone. We collected data on trial recruitment, acceptance and retention and analysed the pooled results using random effects meta-analysis, with the primary outcome defined as the proportion of participants randomised following an invitation to take part.

Results: Five SWATs provided data on the primary outcome of proportion of participants randomised. Multimedia alongside written information results in little or no difference in recruitment rates (pooled odds ratio = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.79 to 1.17, p-value = 0.671, I² = 0%). There was no effect on any other outcomes.

Conclusions: Multimedia alongside written information did not improve trial recruitment rates.

Trial registration: ISRCTN71952900, ISRCTN 06710391, ISRCTN 17160087, ISRCTN05926847, ISRCTN62869767.

Keywords: Information; Meta-analysis; Randomised controlled trial; Recruitment; Research methodology; SWATs; User testing.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Multimedia*
Odds Ratio
Patient Selection
Research Design*

Associated data

ISRCTN/ISRCTN71952900
ISRCTN/ISRCTN06710391
ISRCTN/ISRCTN17160087
ISRCTN/ISRCTN05926847
ISRCTN/ISRCTN62869767

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Associated data

Grants and funding