Systematic review of interventions to increase participation of cancer patients in randomised controlled trials
McDaid C, Hodges Z, Fayter D, Stirk L, Eastwood A
Record ID 32006000277
English
Authors' objectives:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to overcome barriers to participation in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of cancer treatments.
Authors' results and conclusions:
Eight studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria: three RCTs, two non-RCTs and three observational studies. Six of the studies had an intervention that had some relevance to the UK. The majority of studies were concerned with some aspect of the consent process. There was no evidence that any of the interventions investigated led to an increase in cancer patient participation in RCTs, though one good quality RCT found that urologists and nurses were equally effective at recruiting participants to a treatment trial for prostate cancer. Although there was no evidence of an effect in any of the studies, the evidence was not of sufficient quality to be able to conclude that these interventions therefore do not work. Overall, the studies had a range of methodological weaknesses. In particular, in most of the studies there was a risk of contamination between the experimental and comparison intervention leading to a possible dilution of the effect of the experimental intervention.
Authors' recommendations:
There is not a strong evidence-base for interventions that increase cancer patient participation in randomised trials. Further research is required to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies to increase participation in cancer treatment trials.
Authors' methods:
Systematic review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/CRD_Reports/crdreport32.pdf
Year Published:
2006
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
England
MeSH Terms
- Clinical Trials as Topic
- Informed Consent
- Patient Participation
- Patient Selection
- Neoplasms
Contact
Organisation Name:
University of York
Contact Address:
University of York, York, Y01 5DD, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 1904 321040, Fax: +44 1904 321041,
Contact Name:
crd@york.ac.uk
Contact Email:
crd@york.ac.uk
Copyright:
Centre for Reviews and Dissemination
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