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Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Nov 8;21(1):425.
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)

Vichithranie W Madurasinghe  1 , Peter Knapp  2 , Sandra Eldridge  3 , David Collier  4 , Shaun Treweek  5 , Jo Rick  6 , Jonathan Graffy  7 , Adwoa Parker  8 , Chris Salisbury  9 , David Torgerson  10 , Kate Jolly  11 , Manbinder S Sidhu  12 , Christopher Fife-Schaw  13 , Mark A Hull  14 , Kirsty Sprange  15 , Elizabeth Brettell  16 , Sunil Bhandari  17 , Alan Montgomery  15 , Peter Bower  18
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

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

Vichithranie W Madurasinghe et al. BMC Med. .

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.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Primary outcome—randomised to host trial. Heterogeneity chi-squared = 3.72, p = 0.446; I.2 = 0.0%; test of pooled odds ratio = 1: z = 0.42, p = 0.671
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Secondary outcome—responded positively to invitation. Heterogeneity chi-squared = 1.59, p = 0.662; I.2 = 0.0%, test of pooled odds ratio = 1: z = 0.28, p = 0.778
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Secondary outcome—retained at primary endpoint of the host trial. Heterogeneity chi-squared = 3.62, p = 0.164; I.2 = 44.7%, test of pooled odds ratio = 1: z = 0.34, p = 0.737
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