Prioritising recruitment & retention in randomised trials

What is the PRioRiTy Study?

The PRioRiTy studies identified research priorities for how to improve the process of how people are recruited to (PRioRiTy I study) and retained in (PRioRiTy 2 study) randomised trials i.e., what are the most important things we need to know take part in and stay involved in trials. If lots of people don’t take part in or drop-out of the trial, then the trial results may become unreliable or unstable, which wastes vital research time and money.

Both studies involved people across the UK and Ireland who are, or have been, involved directly, in designing, running, analysing, or taking part and/or staying involved in randomised trials. We used a priority setting partnership (PSP) approach for both studies based on the methods of the James Lind Alliance (JLA). The JLA (UK) brings patients, carers and healthcare professionals together in Priority Setting Partnerships. These partnerships identify and prioritise unanswered questions about healthcare that the public, carers and professionals jointly agree are the most important. The aim of this is to help ensure that those who fund health research are aware of what future research will really matter in everyday use.

The PRioRiTy PSPs were focussed on methodological uncertainties rather than on treatment uncertainties and therefore a modified JLA approach was developed and used.

The PRioRiTy studies were the first time a modified JLA approach was used to address methodological uncertainties within randomised trials. This was an Ireland and UK initiative and was funded by several funders, including: the Health Research Board (Ireland), Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Governments Health and Social Care Directorate, and the Medical Research Council.