title: Patient recruitment and retention strategies in randomised controlled trials.
abstract: Evidence-based practice has become a by-word for health care in the 1990s. However, the idea of founding practice on evidence rather than anecdote or tradition has a much longer history. In the 1970s, Cochrane ( 1 ) was already arguing the need for the widespread use of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to inform practice, not only with a view to identifying the most effective clinical treatments, but also the equitable and economical means of utilising those treatments.
authors.affiliation: School of nursing, Midwifery and health visiting, university of Manchester.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of ophthalmology/school of nursing, Midwifery and health visiting, university of Manchester.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rose