title: Recruitment rate for a clinical trial was associated with particular operational procedures and clinician characteristics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Expenditure on research has grown substantially; however, a major challenge for conducting successful clinical research is the efficient recruitment of participants. We investigated factors influencing the rate at which general practitioners (GPs) recruit participants to a randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data on 363 GPs recruiting participants for a randomized controlled trial of low back pain. Multivariate negative binomial regression was used to determine associations of characteristics of the GP and study operational aspects with the recruitment rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GPs recruited 1,195 participants at a rate of 0.013 participants/day. GPs located in a high socioeconomic area recruited at half the rate as those located in a low socioeconomic area [incident rate ratio (IRR), 0.52; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.37, 0.74]. A follow-up within 2 weeks of training the GP and a higher number of face-to-face visits were operational procedures associated with a higher rate of recruitment (IRR, 2.15; 95% CI: 1.58, 2.94 and IRR, 1.17; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.24, respectively). Other contacts made with a GP were not associated with recruitment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that the type of operational procedures used in clinical trial recruitment strategies are important aspects to consider. The ability to predict which GPs will recruit based on GP characteristics seems limited.
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, PO Box M201, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia. Electronic address: cwilliams@georgeinstitute.org.au.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, PO Box M201, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Rd, Sydney, NSW 2113, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Australia, Hospital Rd, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: McAuley
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, PO Box M201, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: Chung-Wei Christine
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Musculoskeletal Division, The George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, PO Box M201, Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Latimer
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D058006:General Practice / Q000379:methods*; D058005:General Practitioners; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D018579:Patient Selection; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design
keywords: Clinical trials; Feasibility; Low back pain; Primary care; Recruitment strategies; Research