| Summary: | <p><strong>Objective:</strong> This study (MEasurement Reactions In Trials) aimed to produce recommendations on how best to minimise bias from measurement reactivity in randomised controlled trials of interventions to improve health.</p>
<p><strong>Study design and setting:</strong> The MERIT study consisted of: (a) an updated systematic review that examined whether measuring participants had effects on participants’ health-related behaviours, relative to no-measurement controls, and three rapid reviews to identify: (i) existing guidance on measurement reactivity; (ii) existing systematic reviews of studies that have quantified the effects of measurement on behavioural or affective outcomes; and (iii) studies that have investigated the effects of objective measurements of behaviour on health-related behaviour; (b) an Delphi study to identify the scope of the recommendations; and (c) an expert workshop in October 2018 to discuss potential recommendations in groups.</p>
<p><strong>Results:</strong> Fourteen recommendations were produced by the expert group to: (a) identify whether bias is likely to be a problem for a trial; (b) decide whether to collect data about whether bias is likely to be a problem; (c) design trials to minimise the likelihood of this bias.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> These recommendations raise awareness of how and where taking measurements can produce bias in trials, and are thus helpful for trial design.</p>
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