Improving recruitment and retention of family members in ICU clinical trials

Clinical Trial Recruitment and Retention Strategies for Family Members in the Intensive Care Unit: A Study Within A Trial Randomized Design

Not applicable Interventional Lady Davis Institute · NCT06588101

This study is trying out different ways to get family members of ICU patients to join and stay in clinical trials to see which methods work best.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment160 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorLady Davis Institute Academic / other
Locations1 site (Montreal, Quebec)
Trial IDNCT06588101 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates strategies to enhance the recruitment and retention of family members of ICU patients in clinical trials. It will test four specific strategies, two focused on recruitment and two on retention, integrated into three ongoing studies involving these family members. Participants will be randomized using a 2x2 factorial design, with the primary outcomes being the percentage of participants recruited and retained. The goal is to generate high-quality evidence to support family engagement practices in the ICU setting.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are family members of patients admitted to an ICU with an expected hospital stay of more than 48 hours.

Not a fit: Patients who have another family member participating in the trial or those with repeat admissions during the study period may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved participation of family members in clinical trials, enhancing the quality of evidence for family engagement in ICU care.

How similar studies have performed: While there is a recognized need for improved family engagement in ICU settings, this specific approach to recruitment and retention strategies is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Has family member admitted to an intensive care unit.
* Expected hospital stay \> 48 hours
* Able to participate in English or French

Exclusion Criteria:

* Has another family member participating in the trial
* Repeat admissions within the study period

Where this trial is running

Montreal, Quebec

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Family MembersRecruitmentClinical StudyRetentionRecruitment of ParticipantsStudy EnrollmentRetention of ParticipantsCompensation Incentives
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.