Rationale and objectives: This study was designed to identify factors that affect the enrollment of patients into American College of Radiology Imaging Network clinical trials.
Materials and methods: A quality improvement study was performed. Brainstorming produced an exhaustive list of factors that could affect the interest of sites in participating in American College of Radiology Imaging Network trials, as well as factors that could influence patient recruitment. Surveys, structured interviews, and benchmarking were used to validate and rank the importance of these factors.
Results: Site participation was influenced mainly by the support of the department chair and the interest of the investigator. Patient recruitment was affected primarily by the ease of identifying candidates and the perceived experience level and skill of the support staff.
Conclusion: Because radiologists do not control patient referrals for imaging tests, a premium must be placed on developing systems to maximize the identification and enrollment of candidates for clinical trials. Other factors considered critical to success in patient enrollment include the supportiveness of the departmental leadership, the experience and skill level of study personnel, and the availability of site-specific infrastructure to support the study.