Background
RECRUITMENT
Randomised control trials (RCT) are the gold standard for studying causal relationships and produce the most reliable evidence about the benefits and harms of clinical interventions. Depending on the phase and focus of the trial, the cost of conducting an RCT can range from US$3.4 million to $21.4 million [Surprisingly, given the high cost of conducting clinical trials, there is limited published data on trial resource use and costs likely signifying the lack of transparent and comprehensive empirical data on RCT costs [Using data from an RCT conducted across Australian general practices, we describe the resources used for recruitment and evaluate the indicators for efficient recruitment. The main aims of this study were to determine the following:Efficiency of recruitment, defined as the number of patients recruited and randomised relative to the numbers screenedAverage time spent for each patient randomisedAverage cost per patient randomisedPractice-level factors associated with more efficient recruitment and lower cost