Our case study successfully enabled us to address the four feasibility metrics , and we provide new information on management feasibility ( i.e. estimate data completeness and estimate data entry ) and scientific outcomes feasibility ( i.e. determining data collection material s appropriateness ) .
Conclusion Our review highlights the existing research and provides a case study which assesses important metrics of study feasibility .
Background Much research has been undertaken to establish the important benefits of physical activity in persons with multiple sclerosis ( MS ) .
There is disagreement regarding the strength of this research , perhaps because the majority of studies on physical activity and its benefits have not undergone initial and systematic feasibility testing .
We aim to address the feasibility processes that have been examined within the context of physical activity interventions in MS .
Participant recruitment into a randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for people with multiple sclerosis
Background The success of a clinical trial is often dependant on whether recruitment targets can be met in the required time frame . Despite an increase in research into the benefits of exercise in people with multiple sclerosis ( PwMS ) , no trial has reported detailed data on effective recruitment strategies for large-scale r and omised controlled trials . The main purpose of this report is to provide a detailed outline of recruitment strategies , rates and estimated costs in the Exercise Intervention for Multiple Sclerosis ( ExIMS ) trial to identify best practice s for future trials involving multiple sclerosis ( MS ) patient recruitment . Methods The ExIMS research ers recruited 120 PwMS to participate in a 12-week exercise intervention .  Participants were r and omly allocated to either  exercise or usual-care control groups . Participants were sedentary , aged 18–65 years and had Exp and ed Disability Status Scale scores of 1.0–6.5 . Recruitment strategies included attendance at MS outpatient clinics , consultant mail-out and trial awareness-raising activities . Results A total of 120 participants were recruited over the course of 34 months . To achieve this target , 369 potentially eligible and interested participants were identified . A total of 60 % of participants were recruited via MS clinics , 29.2 % from consultant mail-outs and 10.8 % through trial awareness . The r and omisation yields were 33.2 % , 31.0 % and 68.4 % for MS clinic , consultant mail-outs and trial awareness strategies , respectively . The main reason for in eligibility was being too active ( 69.2 % ) , whilst for eligible participants the most common reason for non-participation was the need to travel to the study site ( 15.8 % ) . Recruitment via consultant mail-out was the most cost-effective strategy , with MS clinics being the most time-consuming and most costly . Conclusions To reach recruitment targets in a timely fashion , a variety of methods were employed . Although consultant mail-outs were the most cost-effective recruitment strategy , use of this method alone would not have allowed us to obtain the predetermined number of participants in the required time period , thus leading to costly extensions of the project or failure to reach the number of participants required for sufficient statistical power . Thus , a multifaceted approach to recruitment is recommended for future trials . Trial registration International St and ard R and omised Controlled Trial Registry number : IS RCT N41541516 ; date registered : 5 February 2009
Our case study successfully enabled us to address the four feasibility metrics , and we provide new information on management feasibility ( i.e. estimate data completeness and estimate data entry ) and scientific outcomes feasibility ( i.e. determining data collection material s appropriateness ) .
Conclusion Our review highlights the existing research and provides a case study which assesses important metrics of study feasibility .
Background Much research has been undertaken to establish the important benefits of physical activity in persons with multiple sclerosis ( MS ) .
There is disagreement regarding the strength of this research , perhaps because the majority of studies on physical activity and its benefits have not undergone initial and systematic feasibility testing .
We aim to address the feasibility processes that have been examined within the context of physical activity interventions in MS .