Recruiting care homes to a randomised controlled trial
Abstract Background There are more than a quarter of a million individuals aged ≥ 65 years who are resident in care homes in England and Wales. Care home residents have high levels of cognitive impairment, physical disability, multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Research is needed to ensure there are r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2018-10-01
|
| Series: | Trials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13063-018-2915-x |
| _version_ | 1818132696203788288 |
|---|---|
| author | Alison Ellwood Jennifer Airlie Robert Cicero Bonnie Cundill David R Ellard Amanda Farrin Mary Godfrey Liz Graham John Green Vicki McLellan Najma Siddiqi Anne Forster On behalf of the REACH Programme Team |
| author_facet | Alison Ellwood Jennifer Airlie Robert Cicero Bonnie Cundill David R Ellard Amanda Farrin Mary Godfrey Liz Graham John Green Vicki McLellan Najma Siddiqi Anne Forster On behalf of the REACH Programme Team |
| author_sort | Alison Ellwood |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There are more than a quarter of a million individuals aged ≥ 65 years who are resident in care homes in England and Wales. Care home residents have high levels of cognitive impairment, physical disability, multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Research is needed to ensure there are robust, evidence-based interventions to improve the quality of life of this frail group. However, there is a paucity of research studies in this area. Recruiting care homes and their residents to research is challenging. A feasibility, cluster randomised controlled trial was undertaken as part of a research programme to identify ways to develop and test methods to enhance the physical activity of care home residents. This paper describes two methods of recruiting care homes to the trial and draws out learning to inform future studies. Methods Eligible care homes met the following criteria: they were within a defined geographical area in the north of England; provided residential care for adults ≥ 65 years of age; had not previously been involved in the research programme; were not taking part in a conflicting study; were not recorded on the Care Quality Commission website as ‘inadequate’ or ‘requiring improvements’ in any area; and had ≥ 10 beds. Care homes were identified by a ‘systematic approach’ using the Care Quality Commission website database of care homes or a ‘targeted approach’ via a network of research-ready care homes. A standardised method was used to recruit care homes including eligibility screening; invitation letters; telephone contact; visits; formal letter of agreement. Results In the systematic approach, 377 care homes were screened, 230 (61%) were initially eligible and invited to participate, 11 were recruited (recruitment rate (RR) 4.8%). In the targeted approach, 15 care homes were invited to participate, two were recruited (RR 13.3%). Overall, 245 care homes were approached and 13 recruited (RR 5.3%). A variety of care homes were recruited to the trial in terms of size, location, ownership and care provision. Conclusions Systematic recruitment of care homes to the study was time-consuming and resource-heavy but led to a variety of care homes being recruited. The targeted approach led to a higher recruitment rate. Trial registration ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN16076575. Registered on 25 June 2015. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T08:40:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b885672c48cc42b2ba68104f4e47fbe9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1745-6215 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T08:40:56Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Trials |
| spelling | doaj.art-b885672c48cc42b2ba68104f4e47fbe92022-12-22T01:14:16ZengBMCTrials1745-62152018-10-0119111010.1186/s13063-018-2915-xRecruiting care homes to a randomised controlled trialAlison Ellwood0Jennifer Airlie1Robert Cicero2Bonnie Cundill3David R Ellard4Amanda Farrin5Mary Godfrey6Liz Graham7John Green8Vicki McLellan9Najma Siddiqi10Anne Forster11On behalf of the REACH Programme TeamAcademic Unit of Elderly Care and Rehabilitation, Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Temple Bank House, Bradford Royal InfirmaryAcademic Unit of Elderly Care and Rehabilitation, Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Temple Bank House, Bradford Royal InfirmaryClinical Trials Research Unit, Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research, University of LeedsClinical Trials Research Unit, Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research, University of LeedsWarwick Clinical Trials Unit, Warwick Medical School, University of WarwickClinical Trials Research Unit, Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research, University of LeedsAcademic Unit of Elderly Care and Rehabilitation, Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Temple Bank House, Bradford Royal InfirmaryAcademic Unit of Elderly Care and Rehabilitation, Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Temple Bank House, Bradford Royal InfirmaryAcademic Unit of Elderly Care and Rehabilitation, Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Temple Bank House, Bradford Royal InfirmaryClinical Trials Research Unit, Leeds Institute of Clinical Trials Research, University of LeedsDepartment of Health Sciences, Hull York Medical School, University of YorkAcademic Unit of Elderly Care and Rehabilitation, Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Temple Bank House, Bradford Royal InfirmaryAbstract Background There are more than a quarter of a million individuals aged ≥ 65 years who are resident in care homes in England and Wales. Care home residents have high levels of cognitive impairment, physical disability, multimorbidity and polypharmacy. Research is needed to ensure there are robust, evidence-based interventions to improve the quality of life of this frail group. However, there is a paucity of research studies in this area. Recruiting care homes and their residents to research is challenging. A feasibility, cluster randomised controlled trial was undertaken as part of a research programme to identify ways to develop and test methods to enhance the physical activity of care home residents. This paper describes two methods of recruiting care homes to the trial and draws out learning to inform future studies. Methods Eligible care homes met the following criteria: they were within a defined geographical area in the north of England; provided residential care for adults ≥ 65 years of age; had not previously been involved in the research programme; were not taking part in a conflicting study; were not recorded on the Care Quality Commission website as ‘inadequate’ or ‘requiring improvements’ in any area; and had ≥ 10 beds. Care homes were identified by a ‘systematic approach’ using the Care Quality Commission website database of care homes or a ‘targeted approach’ via a network of research-ready care homes. A standardised method was used to recruit care homes including eligibility screening; invitation letters; telephone contact; visits; formal letter of agreement. Results In the systematic approach, 377 care homes were screened, 230 (61%) were initially eligible and invited to participate, 11 were recruited (recruitment rate (RR) 4.8%). In the targeted approach, 15 care homes were invited to participate, two were recruited (RR 13.3%). Overall, 245 care homes were approached and 13 recruited (RR 5.3%). A variety of care homes were recruited to the trial in terms of size, location, ownership and care provision. Conclusions Systematic recruitment of care homes to the study was time-consuming and resource-heavy but led to a variety of care homes being recruited. The targeted approach led to a higher recruitment rate. Trial registration ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN16076575. Registered on 25 June 2015.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13063-018-2915-xHomes for the agedAgedAged, 80 and overRandomised controlled trials as topicResearch subjectsVulnerable populations |
| spellingShingle | Alison Ellwood Jennifer Airlie Robert Cicero Bonnie Cundill David R Ellard Amanda Farrin Mary Godfrey Liz Graham John Green Vicki McLellan Najma Siddiqi Anne Forster On behalf of the REACH Programme Team Recruiting care homes to a randomised controlled trial Trials Homes for the aged Aged Aged, 80 and over Randomised controlled trials as topic Research subjects Vulnerable populations |
| title | Recruiting care homes to a randomised controlled trial |
| title_full | Recruiting care homes to a randomised controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Recruiting care homes to a randomised controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recruiting care homes to a randomised controlled trial |
| title_short | Recruiting care homes to a randomised controlled trial |
| title_sort | recruiting care homes to a randomised controlled trial |
| topic | Homes for the aged Aged Aged, 80 and over Randomised controlled trials as topic Research subjects Vulnerable populations |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13063-018-2915-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alisonellwood recruitingcarehomestoarandomisedcontrolledtrial AT jenniferairlie recruitingcarehomestoarandomisedcontrolledtrial AT robertcicero recruitingcarehomestoarandomisedcontrolledtrial AT bonniecundill recruitingcarehomestoarandomisedcontrolledtrial AT davidrellard recruitingcarehomestoarandomisedcontrolledtrial AT amandafarrin recruitingcarehomestoarandomisedcontrolledtrial AT marygodfrey recruitingcarehomestoarandomisedcontrolledtrial AT lizgraham recruitingcarehomestoarandomisedcontrolledtrial AT johngreen recruitingcarehomestoarandomisedcontrolledtrial AT vickimclellan recruitingcarehomestoarandomisedcontrolledtrial AT najmasiddiqi recruitingcarehomestoarandomisedcontrolledtrial AT anneforster recruitingcarehomestoarandomisedcontrolledtrial AT onbehalfofthereachprogrammeteam recruitingcarehomestoarandomisedcontrolledtrial |