Strategies for Behavioral Research in Neurology: Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Applications for the Future

Cuneo, Ami; Maisha, Kazi; Minen, Mia T.

doi:10.1007/s11910-021-01146-7

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The recruitment and screening strategies were quickly modified in direct response to the multiple COVID-related challenges (ie, limited access to the clinic setting, fewer patient referrals, and social distancing guidelines), similar to previous studies that also modified strategies during the pandemic. 24,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] Because of the research team's limited access to the clinic setting, we partnered with cardiology clinicians to introduce the research study to patients at the time of cardiology appointments. These efforts were led by the study cardiologist and medical director of the women's cardiology clinics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the challenges faced during the pandemic throughout the entire recruitment period, the trial sample of older women with CVD was successfully recruited following the prespecified timeline in the clinical trial protocol written before the pandemic. The recruitment and screening strategies were quickly modified in direct response to the multiple COVID-related challenges (ie, limited access to the clinic setting, fewer patient referrals, and social distancing guidelines), similar to previous studies that also modified strategies during the pandemic 24,26–35 . Because of the research team's limited access to the clinic setting, we partnered with cardiology clinicians to introduce the research study to patients at the time of cardiology appointments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These factors can lead to difficulty recruiting patients. 24,25 We identified 11 studies that described strategies for overcoming recruitment challenges in the clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic 24,[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35] and noted similar pandemic-related recruitment challenges that we experienced in the current trial. These 3 main challenges included (a) limited access to the clinic setting due to social distancing guidelines, (b) fewer patient referrals than anticipated due to lower in-person clinic patient volumes due to fear of COVID-19 exposure, and (c) social distancing guidelines during screening (eg, limiting research team and patient interaction).…”

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confidence: 97%

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Overcoming Pandemic-Related Challenges in Recruitment and Screening

et al. 2023

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Background: Recruiting participants with cardiovascular disease into research during the COVID-19 pandemic was challenging, particularly those at risk of health disparities. Objective: During the pandemic, 12 cohorts of older women with cardiovascular disease were recruited from cardiology clinics into a lifestyle intervention trial to prevent cognitive decline. Objectives were to (a) describe the results of modified recruitment/screening strategies to overcome pandemic-related challenges and (b) evaluate differences in age, race, and ethnicity between patients recruited/ randomized, recruited/not randomized (entered recruitment but not randomized because of being ineligible or not interested), and not recruited (clinic patients who met preliminary criteria but did not enter recruitment). Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive analysis. In-person study strategies proposed before the COVID-19 pandemic were modified before study onset (September 2020). Women 65 years or older with cardiovascular disease were recruited from cardiology clinics by clinicians, posted flyers, and letters mailed to patients randomly selected from electronic health record data extractions. Patients were classified as recruited/randomized, recruited/not randomized, and not recruited. Results: Of 5719 patients potentially eligible, 1689 patients entered recruitment via referral (49.1%), posted flyers (0.5%), or mailed letters (50.3%), and 253 patients were successfully recruited/randomized. Recruited/ randomized participants were, on average, 72.4 years old (range, 65-90 years old), non-Hispanic White (54.2%), non-Hispanic Black (38.3%), Hispanic/Latinx (1.6%), and other/not reported (5.1%). The recruited/randomized group was significantly younger with fewer patients of Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity compared with those not recruited.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Overcoming Pandemic-Related Challenges in Recruitment and Screening

et al. 2023

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“…However, despite the unprecedented number of studies published to date [ 6 ], which changed also the impact factors of journals [ 7 ], a few have discussed the lessons learnt on conducting research during a pandemic. The risk of disruption to some research lines due to restrictions (for example, [ 8 ]) and researchers’ redeployment has been debated [ 9 ]. Violations in the protocols designed before the pandemic have also been investigated in their influence on the quality of the research [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lessons learnt while designing and conducting a longitudinal study from the first Italian COVID-19 pandemic wave up to 3 years

Palese,

Chiappinotto,

Fonda

et al. 2023

Health Res Policy Sys

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Background Several scientific contributions have summarized the “lessons learnt” during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but only a few authors have discussed what we have learnt on how to design and conduct research during a pandemic. The main intent of this study was to summarize the lessons learnt by an Italian multidisciplinary research group that developed and conducted a longitudinal study on COVID-19 patients infected during the first wave in March 2020 and followed-up for 3 years. Methods A qualitative research approach embedded into the primary CORonavirus MOnitoRing study (CORMOR) study was developed, according to the the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research. Multiple data collection strategies were performed: each member was invited to report the main lessons learnt according to his/her perspective and experience from the study design throughout its conduction. The narratives collected were summarized and discussed in face-to-face rounds. The narratives were then thematically analysed according to their main topic in a list that was resent to all members to check the content and their organization. The list of the final “lessons learnt” has been agreed by all members, as described in a detailed fashion. Results Several lessons were learnt while designing and conducting a longitudinal study during the COVID-19 pandemic and summarised into ten main themes: some are methodological, while others concern how to conduct research in pandemics/epidemics/infectious disease emergencies. Conclusions The multidisciplinary approach, which also included patients’ perspective, helped us to protect the consistency and quality of the research provided in pandemic times. The lesson learnt suggest that our research approach may benefit from changes in education, clinical practice and policies.

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Challenges and adaptations for a cluster-randomized control trial targeting parents of pediatric cancer survivors with obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic

Buro

Gray

Ruble

et al. 2022

Translational Behavioral Medicine

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Although the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the importance of digital technology in clinical trial implementation, there is a dearth of literature reporting on challenges and strategies related to multi-site randomized controlled trials (RCTs) among pediatric cancer survivors during the pandemic. This paper discusses challenges faced in the implementation of the NOURISH-T+ trial so far (December 2019–March 2022) and describes adaptations made as a result of these disruptions in the areas of recruitment, data collection, and overall engagement. This reflection is based on a multisite cluster-RCT that aims to examine whether an intervention targeting parents as agents of change to promote healthy eating and physical activity in pediatric cancer survivors, NOURISH-T+ (Nourishing Our Understanding of Role modeling to Improve Support and Health for Healthy Transitions), reduces body mass and improves health behaviors compared to Brief NOURISH-T (Enhanced Usual Care/EUC). The COVID-19 pandemic has created and exacerbated challenges for our trial related to participant recruitment and engagement, technology access and literacy, and data collection and management, as well as COVID-related challenges (e.g., Zoom fatigue). Strategies used to address these challenges might prove helpful in future virtual or hybrid RCTs, including developing trust and rapport with participants, providing support through multiple routes of dissemination, and using data management applications (e.g., REDCap™) for automation and project management. Extra efforts to build families’ trust and rapport, offering multiple routes of support, and automating as many tasks as possible are critical to ensuring the continuation of high-quality clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Strategies for Behavioral Research in Neurology: Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Applications for the Future

Cited by 3 publications

References 36 publications

Overcoming Pandemic-Related Challenges in Recruitment and Screening

Overcoming Pandemic-Related Challenges in Recruitment and Screening

Lessons learnt while designing and conducting a longitudinal study from the first Italian COVID-19 pandemic wave up to 3 years

Challenges and adaptations for a cluster-randomized control trial targeting parents of pediatric cancer survivors with obesity during the COVID-19 pandemic

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