Application of the CuSum technique to evaluate changes in recruitment strategies.
BACKGROUND
While lagging subject enrollment in longitudinal clinical trials is a complex problem, the best recruitment strategy has not been established. Cumulative summation (CuSum) is a statistical process control procedure often applied in quality improvement efforts to detect trend shifts in highly variable serial data.


OBJECTIVE
To describe changes in efforts to increase referrals and enrollment in a longitudinal quality-of-life breast cancer study, determine effects of changes in referral strategies on enrollment using a novel application of CuSum, and discuss implications of CuSum as a tool for prospectively managing the subject recruitment process.


METHODS
Ten referrals and eight enrollments per month for a total of 31 months were estimated to meet study subject accrual requirements in the clinical trial. The estimates were used as standards in performing CuSum calculations. CuSum was applied to monthly referral and enrollment data and trend graphs were generated. Alterations in recruitment tactics and strategies were evaluated as to whether changes in trend occasioned such alterations. Unplanned changes in trend were noted.


RESULTS
While monthly data were highly variable, an average of 8.42 referrals and 5.92 enrollments were realized during Months 1-12. Based on these figures, projected accrual for 31 months would have enrolled only 184 subjects, 66 subjects short of target. CuSum illustrated this trend. Subsequent shifts in enrollment trends were shown with improvements in referral.


CONCLUSIONS
Indications for use of CuSum include (a) earlier detection of enrollment trend shifts, and (b) earlier discrimination between effective and ineffective recruitment. Thus, CuSum has implications for both evaluating the effects of planned and unplanned process changes and for managing the recruitment process.
McNees
Patrick
P
Applied Health Science Inc., 13045 Royal Fern Drive, Orlando, FL 32828, USA. patrick@GHSN.net
Dow
Karen Hassey
KH
Loerzel
Victoria Wochna
VW
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D018579:Patient Selection; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies