title: The Cost-Time Index: a new method for measuring the efficiencies of recruitment-resources in clinical trials.
abstract: Paid media are important resources used to recruit subjects in clinical trials. An index for evaluating which advertising resource has minimal cost and time requirement for patient accrual, for a given study design, has not been previously introduced. In this communication the authors present a new index, the Cost-Time Index, which represents a measure of the average amount of money and time spent, simultaneously, on a given advertising resource to recruit one analyzable subject. This index can be calculated using retrospective data and may be a useful tool for comparing recruitment efficiencies among various resources. The authors demonstrate the utility of the Cost-Time Index and recommend its use as an additional variable in future studies regarding recruitment strategies in clinical trials.
authors.affiliation: Western University, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Pomona, CA 91766, USA. otak@westernu.edu
authors.forename: Ken S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: Leah
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: J Wesson
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ashford
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Allison L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Penner
authors.forename: Aimee M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Stepp
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raam
authors.forename: Jerome A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Yesavage
mesh_terms: D000329:Advertising / Q000191:economics*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D009524:Newspapers as Topic / Q000191:economics*; D018579:Patient Selection; D010789:Phototherapy; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D013996:Time and Motion Studies