Strategies for Providing Research Information to Participants in Multicentre Adult Critical Care Studies: A Survey of Chief Investigators

Abstract

The recruitment of participants in adult critical care studies is often challenging. We surveyed chief investigators of UK multicentre adult critical care studies in this cross-sectional survey to evaluate what strategies they used to provide study information to potential participants. Of 61 eligible responses, we received completed surveys from 35 investigators (response rate 57%). Most chief investigators reported using a written participant information sheet (n = 34, 97%), but the uptake of alternative strategies was limited to 9 studies (26%). Only 6 studies (17%) utilized digital methods. Most chief investigators (63%) reported that they planned to adopt alternative strategies in their next study. Relevance to Clinical Practice: This cross-sectional online survey study explores the strategies currently used by chief investigators for providing research information in critical care and explores how likely chief investigators are to adopt alternative strategies.