title: How big is the elephant in the room? Estimated and actual IT costs in an online behaviour change trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The practical and methodological challenges inherent in online behaviour change studies are both novel and complex. We relate our experiences of estimating and managing information technology (IT) research and intervention costs in an ongoing internet trial in the hope that others will find this information useful.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Actual IT costs were approximately twice those that had been originally estimated by external contractors. These original estimates for IT costs allowed little scope for the identification of new needs, which was intrinsic to the iterative nature of the research enterprise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Making greater provision for the uncertain nature of these costs in future studies is a key practical lesson for the planning of future online behaviour change studies.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Drugs & Health Behaviour, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK. Jim.McCambridge@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCambridge
authors.forename: Orla
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Godfrey
authors.forename: Zarnie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khadjesari
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Linke
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wallace