Evidence Summary
What is it?
Instead of using a paper system, participant data collection is done via the internet.
Does it work?
Internet‐based, electronic data collection compared to paper‐based may reduce recruitment.
How big is the effect?
A decrease of -13% (95% confidence interval = -24% to -3%).
How certain are we?
GRADE Low certainty.
Recommendation
We recommend that trialists use internet-based electronic data collection in the context of an intervention evaluation..
How can I use this straight away?
See Resource bundle below for details on how to use internet-based electronic data collection.
Practical Impact
Imagine a trial that needs to recruit 30 participants and initial recruitment is 30% of those approached. This means you’d need to approach 100 people to recruit 30 of them (see chart).
Now imagine using internet-based electronic data collection. The chart below shows the impact of an absolute decrease of -13% (95% CI = -24% to -3%). Recruitment is now 17%, which means our best estimate is that 176 people would now need to be approached to recruit 30 of them.
Cumulative Meta-Analysis*
*Random effects model done using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis v4 (www.meta-analysis.com).
Differences >0% favour the intervention. The GRADE assessment is low because of the imprecision of a single study.
Resource Bundle
How to Cite
Citation: Ostrovska B., Evidence pack– Recruitment: Internet-based electronic data collection (REC19), 2023, https://www.trialforge.org/recruitment-sector/internet-based-electronic-data-collection-id-rec19
More Information
- This summary is from the Cochrane review of strategies to improve recruitment in randomised trials (https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.MR000013.pub6).
- It was prepared with financial support from Evidence Synthesis Ireland.
- The ‘Does it work?’ statement is structured according to effect size and GRADE certainty as per GRADE Guidelines 26 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2019.10.014). The statement is for a large effect size and GRADE Low certainty.
- The recommendation statement is the consensus view of the authors of this summary based on the GRADE certainty and features of the trials contributing to the evidence.
- If you have any questions contact info@trialforge.org.
