Table 3 Summary of possible strategies that might improve feasibility in terms of recruitment, missing values and patient satisfaction
Recommendations | |
|---|---|
Recruitment and inclusion | - Expand inclusion criteria to increase the number of eligible patients and improve generalizability. - Include more recruitment centers to increase the number of eligible patients as soon as a delayed recruitment is noticed. - Inform eligible patients about the possible course of nutritional symptoms during chemotherapy when asking them to participate. - Inform eligible patients that the burden of participation will be kept as low as possible (no additional hospital visits, non-invasive procedures etc.). - Keep recruiting staff motivated by sending them newsletters about the study, speak with them face-to-face about eligible patients, involve them in the protocol writing or share positive responses of participants with them. - Estimate the number of eligible patients in advance based on the in- and exclusion criteria. |
Missing values | - Maintain close contact with the clinical nurse specialist about the planning of patients to prevent missing values at baseline. - Pay extra attention to instructing participants on how to fill in questionnaires and diaries and evaluate afterwards. - Emphasize the benefits of questionnaires and diaries in the communication with their practitioners to create motivation and increase compliance. |
Patient satisfaction | - Combine study appointments with existing hospital appointments to prevent extra hospital visits. - Minimize the number of different staff members having contact with the participants. - Keep an overview of the studies that eligible patients are being asked to participate in to prevent that patients are overwhelmed with studies. |