The MRC HTMR recruitment working group: Driving recruitment research through collaboration

Introduction: The Hubs for Trials Methodology Research (HTMR) were set up by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) in 2009 to create a UK-wide resource to improve the design, conduct, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of clinical trials. Collaborations and networking were fostered through working groups focusing on key priority areas for the UK trials community. Methods: The remit of the Recruitment Working Group (RWG) is to develop, implement, and evaluate recruitment interventions in clinical trials and develop new ideas and studies to improve the efficiency of recruitment research through collaboration. Potential relevance and impact: Two landmark studies in recruitment research were reported in 2017, specifically the ORRCA online resource for recruitment research (a RWG collaborative project) and the PRioRiTy study that identified the top ten questions for recruitment research. These, along with systematic review evidence, were discussed by 20 RWG members, in a face to face meeting, and future RWG activities prioritised. Three key research areas were identified by the RWG: the core information needs of clinical trial participants (PRioRiTy question 5), core training activities for health professionals working on a clinical trial (PRioRity question 6), and the inclusion of under-represented/minority groups (PRioRity question 8). Sub-working groups for each of the three research questions have been established representing cross HTMR collaboration. Research proposals are in development that will address the research questions prioritised by the RWG and develop SWAT protocols for future evaluation across multiple trials. The RWG has enabled a collaborative, cohesive, efficient network of researchers interested in trials methodology to work together to achieve more than the sum of the parts and built a solid foundation for future growth and expansion as the network develops.