A well designed study does not guarantee success. Data collection depends on successfully recruiting participants to studies. Such recruitment requires careful consideration and well planned processes, particularly in an environment where research is not part of routine clinical practice. Staff and patients may not be familiar with the requirements and processes involved in research. The ECRI Institute has produced a Patient Reference Guide for Adults with a Serious or Life Threatening Illness to help patients in making a decision about participating in a clinical trial.

An Australian study, the Palliative Care Trial, was the largest randomised controlled trial in the world exploring palliative care service provision. Over 400 patients were individually recruited to this study. In order to achieve such a large sample size, the investigators developed strategies to engage clinical staff in the research process. They also formed a service level committee to work together with the relevant Hospital Research Ethics Committee to ensure that the cumulative burden of research on patients, staff and service was anticipated and monitored. Information on these strategies can be found in the following resources: