How much does pre-trial testing influence complex intervention trials and would more testing make any difference? An email survey

Table 1 The degree and influence of pre-trial testing for 42 complex intervention trials.

	Would more or better testing have produced a more effective intervention?
Was the intervention tested?¹	Yes	No	Unclear	Totals
Yes – extensively	4	11	1	16
Yes – to some degree	5	11	2	18
No	4	4	0	8
Totals	13	26	3	42
	Was the test phase mentioned in the published article? ²
Was the intervention tested? ¹	Yes	No		Totals
Yes – extensively	10	6		16
Yes – to some degree	7	11		18
No	-	8		8
Totals	17	25		42

¹ Testing was categorised (by ST) as 'extensive' if the respondent considered the study a pilot, or mentioned substantial experience with similar interventions, tests of the complete intervention package running for several months, previously published pilot work, exploratory trials or the respondent described testing as extensive. All other testing was categorised as 'to some degree'.
² Done by checking the text of the respondent's 2004 publication identified by our search.

ISSN: 1471-2288