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Attrition in randomised controlled trials (RCTs)
Attrition in randomised controlled trials
Attrition, commonly referred to as "loss to
follow-up" among study groups in
randomised trials can compromise study findings by reducing the
power of a study to detect a true difference between the control
and the intervention group.
Many untested strategies are used by
researchers to try to reduce attrition from randomised trials.
These include strategies designed to generate optimal data return
or increase compliance to follow-up procedures. We are working with
the MRC General Practice Research Framework (GPRF) on two studies
to both quantitatively and qualitatively review strategies to
reduce attrition from trials.
Systematic review of strategies
to reduce attrition
A thematic analysis of retention
in primary care randomised trials