title: Feasibility study of a single-blind randomised controlled trial of an occupational therapy intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several factors facilitate or hinder efficacy research in occupational therapy. Strategies are needed, therefore, to support the successful implementation of trials.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT). The main feasibility objectives of this study were to assess the process, resources, management, and scientific basis of a trial RCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 10 occupational therapists, between the ages of 30 and 55 (M 43.4; SD 8.3) with seven to 26 years' (M 14.3; SD 6.1) experience, participated in this study. Qualitative data collected included minutes of meetings, reports, and field notes. The data were analysed based on the principles of content analysis, using feasibility objectives as the main categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysis revealed strengths in relation to retention and inclusion criteria of participants, the study protocol, study organisation, and the competence of researchers. Weaknesses were found related to recruitment, randomisation, data collection, time for training and communication, commitment, and design.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicated that there are several factors which had a considerable impact on the implementation of an RCT in practice. However, it was useful to assess methods and procedures of the trial RCT as a basis to refine research plans.
authors.affiliation: a Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Health Professions, Institute of Occupational Therapy , Winterthur , Switzerland ;|e Department of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergology , Bern University Hospital , Bern , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Brigitte E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Gantschnig
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Division of Occupational Therapy , Umeå University , Sweden ;
authors.forename: Ingeborg
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.affiliation: b Faculty of Medicine, Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Division of Occupational Therapy , Umeå University , Sweden ;|c Department of Occupational Therapy , Colorado State University, College of Health and Human Sciences , Fort Collins , USA ;
authors.forename: Anne G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.affiliation: d Eastern Swiss Children's Hospital , St Gallen , Switzerland ;
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Künzle
authors.affiliation: a Zurich University of Applied Sciences, School of Health Professions, Institute of Occupational Therapy , Winterthur , Switzerland ;
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Page
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009048:Motor Skills; D009788:Occupational Therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D016037:Single-Blind Method
keywords: Implementation; pilot study; practice