The STEER Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Systematic Techniques for Enhancing rEtention in RCTs: The STEER Study.
IRAS ID
230825
Contact name
Katie Gillies
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen/NHS Grampian
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
researchregistry2831, Resaerch Registry (www.researchregistry.com)
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
This research aims to find new ways to minimise the damaging consequences of people dropping out of clinical trials. Clinical trials compare medical treatments to find out which work best. \n\nThe number of people needed in a trial is worked out in advance to make sure the trial is big enough so that it produces a sound scientific conclusion. If a lot of people drop-out of the trial before it is finished, the trial conclusions may become unreliable or unusable.\n \nThis research will interview people who have dropped out of trials to explore what led to drop-out. Interviews will especially focus on peoples’ behaviour (what they did and why). We will then develop and test new ways to help people stay in trials targeting the specific barriers people have identified. Reducing drop-out will directly lead to more reliable evidence being available to the health service to improve patient care.\n
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
17/NS/0086
Date of REC Opinion
5 Sep 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion