Abstract
Introduction and objectives
Recruitment rates to clinical trials in primary care are often lower than anticipated, even in successful trials. Researchers can be too optimistic about the number of eligible patients, and the GPs’ time and ability to recruit patients. The MAGNIFY cluster randomised trial is investigating the effect of a technologically supported adherence package (Ultibro Breezhaler + adherence support technology) for COPD patients in primary care. This abstract explores facilitators for recruiting patients into a GP practice-level intervention trial.
Methods
Eligible practices willing to implement the adherence package were invited to participate. Algorithms run on electronic medical records (EMR) of intervention arm practices identified COPD patients aged ≥40 years, with ≥2 moderate/severe exacerbations in the last two years and ≤50% adherence to mono/dual therapy. Pharmacists were funded to recruit patients over a maximum of two calls; initial calls entailed a remote review and invitation to use the technology if suitable, with offer of a second to support device set-up and resolve problems.
Results
To date, 398/672 (59.2%) potentially eligible patients have been reviewed. 67/398 (16.8%) were deemed clinically unsuitable during the initial call. Of the remaining 331 patients, 218 (96.1%) accepted the support package; giving an overall recruitment rate onto the intervention of 54.8% (218/398 patients).
Conclusions
The recruitment rate was higher than many primary care trials. Recruitment of primary care patients into intervention trials may benefit from using cluster randomised trial designs and adopting novel approaches including EMR searches and dedicated pharmacists to identify, screen and recruit potential patients.
Recruitment rates to clinical trials in primary care are often lower than anticipated, even in successful trials. Researchers can be too optimistic about the number of eligible patients, and the GPs’ time and ability to recruit patients. The MAGNIFY cluster randomised trial is investigating the effect of a technologically supported adherence package (Ultibro Breezhaler + adherence support technology) for COPD patients in primary care. This abstract explores facilitators for recruiting patients into a GP practice-level intervention trial.
Methods
Eligible practices willing to implement the adherence package were invited to participate. Algorithms run on electronic medical records (EMR) of intervention arm practices identified COPD patients aged ≥40 years, with ≥2 moderate/severe exacerbations in the last two years and ≤50% adherence to mono/dual therapy. Pharmacists were funded to recruit patients over a maximum of two calls; initial calls entailed a remote review and invitation to use the technology if suitable, with offer of a second to support device set-up and resolve problems.
Results
To date, 398/672 (59.2%) potentially eligible patients have been reviewed. 67/398 (16.8%) were deemed clinically unsuitable during the initial call. Of the remaining 331 patients, 218 (96.1%) accepted the support package; giving an overall recruitment rate onto the intervention of 54.8% (218/398 patients).
Conclusions
The recruitment rate was higher than many primary care trials. Recruitment of primary care patients into intervention trials may benefit from using cluster randomised trial designs and adopting novel approaches including EMR searches and dedicated pharmacists to identify, screen and recruit potential patients.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Accepted/In press - 2022 |
| Event | British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting 2022 - QEII Centre, London, United Kingdom Duration: 23 Nov 2022 → 25 Nov 2022 https://www.brit-thoracic.org.uk/education-and-events/winter-meeting/ |
Conference
| Conference | British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting 2022 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | London |
| Period | 23/11/22 → 25/11/22 |
| Internet address |