Recruitment of patients to a glaucoma drug trial in a district general hospital.
We report the difficulties experienced in identifying and recruiting 21 patients with ocular hypertension or primary open-angle glaucoma to participate in a clinical trial of two topical beta-blockers. The case-notes of 374 consecutive patients expected to attend routine glaucoma clinics were reviewed to recruit 21 eligible patients who were willing to undergo the drug trial. Recruitment of patients to prospective drug trials may be complicated by a high proportion of exclusions due to ineligibility and also by refusal of otherwise eligible patients.
Department of Ophthalmology, Southport and Formby District General Hospital.
P
P
Sunderraj
C S
CS
Peiris
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008499:Medical Records; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010361:Patients; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists