Recruiting patients for drug trials: A difficult task

Abstract

In successfully recruiting patients for drug trials in dementia the Therapeutic Research Unit for the Elderly (TRUE) had referrals from various sources. The local Memory Clinic (MC) provided 38 patients for screening of which 31 (81%) were recruited, 75% of the overall number recruited. This number was small (n=41) despite various efforts and does not reflect the time invested and amount of contact work with GPs, out-patient departments and other psychiatric services. The memory clinic provides a source of recruitment of patients for drug trials as well as services for those who do not qualify for such trials. But recruiting without the aid of a memory clinic is difficult and time consuming and new approaches must be found.