ArticleBMJ open2021
Recruiting in intervention studies: challenges and solutions.
Article in BMJ open, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Recruitment and Retention Strategies for Historically Marginalized Populations in Colorectal Cancer Trials: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Using Systematic Review Methods.Journal of gastrointestinal cancer · 2024Pooled it
- Does radiographic imaging for spinal pain in patients receiving chiropractic care change patient outcomes? A pilot randomised controlled trial.Chiropractic & manual therapies · 2026Trial
- Prevention of sickness absence through early identification and rehabilitation of at-risk patients with musculoskeletal disorders (PREVSAM): 12-month follow-up of a randomised controlled trial.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Trial
- Trial
- Web-Based Interactive Training for Managers (Managing Minds at Work) to Promote Mental Health at Work: Pilot Feasibility Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR mental health · 2025Trial
- Process evaluation of a randomised controlled trial - prevention of sickness absence through early identification and rehabilitation of at-risk patients with musculoskeletal disorders (PREVSAM).BMC health services research · 2024Trial
- The Feasibility of the Diabetes Self-Management Coaching Program in Primary Care: A Mixed-Methods Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Trial
- Feasibility of the Promoting Pupils' Physical Literacy (3PL) intervention: Does it work? Will it work?Pilot and feasibility studies · 2026Article
- Interventions for promoting physical activity in people with newly diagnosed Parkinson's disease: scoping review.Systematic reviews · 2025Article
- The ActiveText@T2D text messaging behavioural intervention to increase physical activity in adults with type 2 diabetes: A prospective single-arm feasibility trial.PLOS digital health · 2025Article
- Personalized exercise programs improve health-related quality of life in individuals with spinal cord injuries: an exploratory randomized clinical trial.Physical activity and nutrition · 2025Article
- Planning for successful participant recruitment and retention in trials of behavioural interventions: Feasibility randomised controlled trial of the Wrapped intervention.PLOS digital health · 2025Article
- Pragmatic recruitment strategies for a text-based smoking cessation intervention for sexual and gender minority groups.Discover public health · 2025Article
- Which demographic characteristics are associated with willingness to take part in recontact studies? A cross-sectional study.PloS one · 2025Article
- Article
- Discontinuation and nonpublication of clinical trials in orthopaedic oncology.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2024Article
- Promoting post-traumatic growth in cancer patients: a randomized controlled trial of guided written disclosure.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Article
- Merits and Pitfalls of Social Media as a Platform for Recruitment of Study Participants.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Article
- Intrinsic variables associated with low back pain and lumbar spine injury in fast bowlers in cricket: a systematic review.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2023Article
- Developing a research community within an online healthcare feedback platform.Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionIn order for study results to be relevant for practice, the study participants should represent the source population. A common problem is recruitment of sufficient and representative subjects, threatening the external validity of the study and, ultimately, evidence-based practice. The aim was to highlight common challenges and to present possible solutions to recruitment.
methodsUsing four recent randomised controlled trials as examples, common recruitment challenges were highlighted and solutions were proposed. The four studies represented some common and some specific challenges, but they investigated interventions for the prevention of the two major public health challenges of today: musculoskeletal pain and common mental disorders.
resultsIdentified challenges and suggested solutions were presented as a checklist to be used for future trials in order to aid recruitment and reporting thereof.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.