Table 1 Relevant global screening factors identified for the MACUSTAR study in qualitative evaluation ordered by estimated magnitude of impact on screening numbers
Screening measures | Factors prioritized in qualitative interviews* | Other factors |
|---|---|---|
All sites | Change of inclusion criteria (opening for individuals with unilateral intermediate disease) (#8) | Dissemination material (patient flyer, referral letter, study procedure flyers, sample visit schedules) |
Increase of participant travel expenses reimbursement (#3) | Distribution of study newsletter | |
Investigator teleconferences (#6) | ||
Investigator meetings (conferences) (#7) | Letter of appreciation for clinical sites at recruitment start | |
Increase of study newsletter frequency (monthly to biweekly) (#4) | Implementation of a clinical site questionnaire to identify unsolved issues | |
Regular coordination teleconferences with the project management and monitors (#5) | ||
Single sites | Pre-screening lists | |
Individual contacts with investigators (e-mail, phone, in person) | ||
Individual contacts with site coordinators | ||
Appearing in the newsletter as a “top recruiter” | ||
Interacting factors | Public holiday (#2) | Competitive recruitment |
Reaching a high proportion of the initial “recruitment target” or exceeding this target (#9) | Communication of recruiting problems by individual sites | |
Successive initiation of screening activity (#1) | Problems with study devices at individual sites | |
Consortium core membership (#10) |