How can retention in clinical trials be improved?

1. Background to the project
While recruitment to clinical trials worries everyone (with reason) and often attracts targeted payments (e.g. NHS Health Boards are paid on trial recruitment statistics), retention - collecting complete primary outcome data from participants - often receives far less attention. This is short-sighted. Clearly a trial needs participants but it needs them because they generate outcome data and participants provide those only if they stay in the trial. A recent study reviewed the evidence of strategies used to improve retention in RCTs and found that monetary incentives were the only effective method to increase questionnaire response in RCTs. However, retention in a trial is not limited to return of questionnaires. For example, treatment compliance or attending a clinic can also be considered as aspects of trial retention.

To better understand the reasons underpinning poor trial retention and to explore the rationale for the use of difference strategies to improve retention in clinical trials, we are proposing a PhD that aims to explore aspects of retention in depth. Ultimately generating findings and recommendations for trialists to improve the design, conduct and delivery of clinical trials. By exploring these issues across a range of trials it will allow us to draw contextual conclusions about the barriers and enablers of retention across trials and also identify those that are trial specific. The exact focus of the work will be defined through a consensus based prioritisation exercise that will identify the top 20 research questions for retention in clinical trials.

2. Proposed research and techniques.
The overall aim of this research is to identify solutions to the address the top methodological questions for retention in clinical trials. The research objectives will be defined in an ongoing project in the lead up to the PhD and the work and will be dependent on the questions identified in the prioritisation exercise . It is likely that any PhD research projects will be use mixed-methods to answer specific questions and will likely involve a range of methods such as: systematic literature searching and synthesis of identified articles, consensus methods, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.


3. Useful previous experience for the studentship.
An undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline or experience of research methods and running a research project would be helpful. Specific research skill can be learnt throughout the project but any prior knowledge of systematic reviews (quantitative and qualitative), semi-structured interviews, questionnaire design, and consensus methods would be an advantage.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
This project is advertised in relation to the research areas of the APPLIED HEALTH SCIENCE. Formal applications can be completed online: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/pgap/login.php You should apply for Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Health Science, to ensure that your application is passed to the correct person for processing.

NOTE CLEARLY THE NAME OF THE SUPERVISOR and EXACT PROJECT TITLE ON THE APPLICATION FORM. IF YOU DO NOT MENTION IAHS STUDENTSHIP ON YOUR APPLICATION THEN IT WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR THE STUDENTSHIP. Applicants are limited to applying for a maximum of 3 applications for funded projects. Any further applications received will be automatically withdrawn.

Informal inquiries can be made to Dr Katie Gillies ([Email Address Removed] ) with a copy of your curriculum vitae and cover letter indicating your interest in the project and why you wish to undertake it. All general enquiries should be directed to the Postgraduate Research School ([Email Address Removed]).