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Evaluating recruitment methods of patients with advanced cancer: a pragmatic opportunistic comparison

Yes / Background: Recruitment of patients with advanced cancer into studies is challenging.
Objective: To evaluate recruitment methods in a study of pharmacist-led cancer pain medicines consultations and produce recommendations for future studies.
Method: Two methods of recruitment were employed: 1) community-based (general practitioner computer search, identification by general practitioner, community pharmacist or district nurse and hospital outpatient list search), and 2) hospice-based (in and outpatient list search). Patients identified in method 1 were invited by post and in method 2 were invited face-to-face. Information was designed in collaboration with patients and carers.
Results: 128 patients were identified (85 from the community and 43 from the hospice), 47 met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-three agreed to take part and 19 completed the study, 17 of whom were already under specialist palliative care. Recruitment rates were 7% for community-based methods and 40% for hospice. The recruitment methods differed in intensity of resource use. Recruitment via letter and a lack of engagement by healthcare professionals were found to be barriers. Facilitators included the researcher having personal involvement in recruitment.
Conclusion: The overall recruitment rate was in line with other studies for this patient cohort. Attempts to identify and engage patients through community-based postal contact were less effective than where personal contact with patients was both possible and occurred. Methods were less successful at recruiting patients who were not already engaged with hospice services. / Programme Grants for Applied Research. Grant Number: RP-PG-0610-10114

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:BRADFORD/oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/17146
Date13 June 2019
CreatorsEdwards, Zoe, Bennett, M.I., Petty, Duncan R., Blenkinsopp, Alison
Source SetsBradford Scholars
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeArticle, Accepted manuscript
Rights© 2019 Wiley This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Edwards Z, Bennett MI, Petty D et al (2019) Evaluating recruitment methods of patients with advanced cancer: a pragmatic opportunistic comparison. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice. 27(6): 536-544, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpp.12562. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving., Unspecified

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