A thematic analysis of factors influencing recruitment to maternal and perinatal trials.

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.

Published: August 2008

Background: Recruitment of eligible participants remains one of the biggest challenges to successful completion of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Only one third of trials recruit on time, often requiring a lengthy extension to the recruitment period. We identified factors influencing recruitment success and potentially effective recruitment strategies.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE from 1966 to December Week 2, 2006, the Cochrane Library Methodology Register in December 2006, and hand searched reference lists for studies of any design which focused on recruitment to maternal/perinatal trials, or if no studies of maternal or perinatal research could be identified, other areas of healthcare. Studies of nurses' and midwives' attitudes to research were included as none specifically about trials were located. We synthesised the data narratively, using a basic thematic analysis, with themes derived from the literature and after discussion between the authors.

Results: Around half of the included papers (29/53) were specific to maternal and perinatal healthcare. Only one study was identified which focused on factors for maternal and perinatal clinicians and only seven studies considered recruitment strategies specific to perinatal research. Themes included: participant assessment of risk; recruitment process; participant understanding of research; patient characteristics; clinician attitudes to research and trials; protocol issues; and institutional or organisational issues. While no reliable evidence base for strategies to enhance recruitment was identified in any of the review studies, four maternal/perinatal primary studies suggest that specialised recruitment staff, mass mailings, physician referrals and strategies targeting minority women may increase recruitment. However these findings may only be applicable to the particular trials and settings studied.

Conclusion: Although factors reported by both participants and clinicians which influence recruitment were quite consistent across the included studies, studies comparing different recruitment strategies were largely missing. Trials of different recruitment strategies could be embedded in large multicentre RCTs, with strategies tailored to the factors specific to the trial and institution.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2532678PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-8-36DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

maternal perinatal
16
recruitment
14
recruitment strategies
12
thematic analysis
8
factors influencing
8
influencing recruitment
8
trials
8
studies
8
strategies
6
factors
5

Similar Publications

Background: Training with high-technology manikins improves cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skill retention, but a checklist to assess both technical and non-technical skills is lacking. This study aimed to develop a standardized checklist to evaluate healthcare's performance during simulated Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) scenarios.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-two international neonatal resuscitation experts participated in a two-step modified Delphi process, rating each checklist item on a scale of 1-5 and providing feedback.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

PLGA nanocarriers biomimetic of platelet membranes and their interactions with the placental barrier.

Int J Pharm

January 2025

The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Material, School of Life Science and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003 China. Electronic address:

This study focuses on the preparation and characterization of platelet membrane biomimetic nanocarriers (P-PLGA NPs) and investigates their interactions with the transplacental barrier. Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA NPs) were coated with platelet membrane (PLTM) to construct P-PLGA NPs. Additionally, fluorinated polyethylenimine (F-PEI) was grafted onto PLGA NPs to prepare F-PEI-PLGA NPs, which were compared with PLGA NPs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A comprehensive GPS-based analysis of activity spaces in early and late pregnancy using the ActMAP framework.

Health Place

January 2025

ISGlobal, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB), C/ Doctor Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), C/ Doctor Aiguader 80, 08003, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, c/ Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Health implications of mobility during pregnancy entail a need to understand pregnant women's activity spaces. We present ActMAP, a framework for quantifying multiple aspects of activity spaces from distinct trips and stays derived from GPS data. We applied ActMAP to data from 238 pregnant women in Barcelona, Spain (2018-2020) and explored weekday, weekend and intraday associations between pregnancy trimester and activity spaces.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Predictors of cultural competence among healthcare professional in maternity department: A systematic review.

Midwifery

January 2025

Fondazione Policlinico Agostino Gemelli IRCSS, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Roma, Italy; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 8, 00168, Roma, Italy.

Background: In recent years, the number of foreign women seeking perinatal care from health services has increased. These women come from diverse cultural and social backgrounds, highlighting the importance of properly training healthcare professionals to respond effectively to their needs. Cultural Competence refers to the set of skills, knowledge, and awareness that providers must possess to deliver care to patients from different cultures.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Perinatal mental health problems, such as anxiety, stress, and depression, warrant particularly close monitoring and intervention, but they are often unaddressed in both obstetric and psychiatric clinics, with limited accessibility and treatment resources. Mobile health interventions may provide an effective and more accessible solution for addressing perinatal mental health. Development and evaluation of a mobile mental health intervention specifically for pregnant women are warranted.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!