The PROMoting THE USE of SWATs (PROMETHEUS) Programme: lessons learnt and future developments for SWATs

Laura Kate Clark; Catherine Ellen Arundel; Elizabeth Coleman; Laura Doherty; Adwoa Parker; Catherine Elizabeth Hewitt; David John Beard; Peter Bower; Paul Brocklehurst; Cindy Cooper; Lucy Culliford; Declan Devane; Richard Elmsley; Sandra Eldridge; Sandra Galvin; Katie Gillies; Alan Montgomery; Chris Sutton; Shaun Treweek; David John Torgerson

doi:10.1177/26320843221089632

The PROMoting THE USE of SWATs (PROMETHEUS) Programme: lessons learnt and future developments for SWATs

Laura Kate Clark, Catherine Ellen Arundel, Elizabeth Coleman, Laura Doherty, Adwoa Parker, Catherine Elizabeth Hewitt, David John Beard, Peter Bower, Paul Brocklehurst, Cindy Cooper, Lucy Culliford, Declan Devane, Richard Elmsley, Sandra Eldridge, Sandra Galvin, Katie Gillies, Alan Montgomery, Chris Sutton, Shaun Treweek, David John Torgerson

Health Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Introduction: The PROMETHEUS programme (PROMoting THE USE of SWATs) was funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) infrastructure funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The purpose was to develop strategies to increase the recruitment and retention evidence base. This paper aims to present observations from this work.

Observations: The PROMETHUS programme funded 42 SWATs, the average cost of each SWAT was £4,007. A central coordination point enabled a concentrated effort in SWAT research activity leading to a rapid increase in the evidence base. The methodological feasibility of undertaking a coordinated SWAT design was established. The international Trial Forge SWAT Network was developed in 2021 to connect research groups in response for the need to connect teams undertaking methodological research. A SWAT reporting template and a database of researchers willing to peer-review SWATs are also needed to improve the reporting of SWATs.

Discussion: There is a need to develop a strategy to aid teams to identify a suitable SWAT for their host trial populations and a mechanism to communicate SWAT research priorities. Work is needed to increase the awareness of the methodological importance of SWAT research with research teams and develop engagement strategies to increase SWAT activity. Continued collaboration with the HRA is necessary to refine the SWAT approvals process.

Conclusion: The coordination PROMETHEUS provided is crucial to increasing the recruitment retention evidence base. The Trial Forge Network will be key to provide ongoing networking and dissemination opportunities.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	100-106
Number of pages	7
Journal	Research Methods in Medicine & Health Sciences
Volume	3
Issue number	4
Early online date	10 Jun 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/26320843221089632
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2022

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10.1177/26320843221089632Licence: CC BY

The PROMoting the USE of SWATs (PROMETHEUS) programme: Lessons learnt and future developments for SWATs
© The Author(s) 2022
Final published version, 542 KBLicence: CC BY

Routinely Embedding Recruitment and Retention Interventions Within Randomised Trials
Torgerson, D. J., Hewitt, C. E. & Parker, A.
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL (MRC)
1/04/18 → 30/04/21
Project: Research project (funded) › Research

Cite this

Clark, L. K., Arundel, C. E., Coleman, E., Doherty, L., Parker, A., Hewitt, C. E., Beard, D. J., Bower, P., Brocklehurst, P., Cooper, C., Culliford, L., Devane, D., Elmsley, R., Eldridge, S., Galvin, S., Gillies, K., Montgomery, A., Sutton, C., Treweek, S., & Torgerson, D. J. (2022). The PROMoting THE USE of SWATs (PROMETHEUS) Programme: lessons learnt and future developments for SWATs. Research Methods in Medicine & Health Sciences, 3(4), 100-106. https://doi.org/10.1177/26320843221089632

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title = "The PROMoting THE USE of SWATs (PROMETHEUS) Programme: lessons learnt and future developments for SWATs",

abstract = "Introduction: The PROMETHEUS programme (PROMoting THE USE of SWATs) was funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) infrastructure funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The purpose was to develop strategies to increase the recruitment and retention evidence base. This paper aims to present observations from this work. Observations: The PROMETHUS programme funded 42 SWATs, the average cost of each SWAT was £4,007. A central coordination point enabled a concentrated effort in SWAT research activity leading to a rapid increase in the evidence base. The methodological feasibility of undertaking a coordinated SWAT design was established. The international Trial Forge SWAT Network was developed in 2021 to connect research groups in response for the need to connect teams undertaking methodological research. A SWAT reporting template and a database of researchers willing to peer-review SWATs are also needed to improve the reporting of SWATs. Discussion: There is a need to develop a strategy to aid teams to identify a suitable SWAT for their host trial populations and a mechanism to communicate SWAT research priorities. Work is needed to increase the awareness of the methodological importance of SWAT research with research teams and develop engagement strategies to increase SWAT activity. Continued collaboration with the HRA is necessary to refine the SWAT approvals process.Conclusion: The coordination PROMETHEUS provided is crucial to increasing the recruitment retention evidence base. The Trial Forge Network will be key to provide ongoing networking and dissemination opportunities. ",

author = "Clark, {Laura Kate} and Arundel, {Catherine Ellen} and Elizabeth Coleman and Laura Doherty and Adwoa Parker and Hewitt, {Catherine Elizabeth} and Beard, {David John} and Peter Bower and Paul Brocklehurst and Cindy Cooper and Lucy Culliford and Declan Devane and Richard Elmsley and Sandra Eldridge and Sandra Galvin and Katie Gillies and Alan Montgomery and Chris Sutton and Shaun Treweek and Torgerson, {David John}",

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Clark, LK , Arundel, CE , Coleman, E, Doherty, L, Parker, A , Hewitt, CE, Beard, DJ, Bower, P, Brocklehurst, P, Cooper, C, Culliford, L, Devane, D, Elmsley, R, Eldridge, S, Galvin, S, Gillies, K, Montgomery, A, Sutton, C, Treweek, S & Torgerson, DJ 2022, 'The PROMoting THE USE of SWATs (PROMETHEUS) Programme: lessons learnt and future developments for SWATs', Research Methods in Medicine & Health Sciences, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 100-106. https://doi.org/10.1177/26320843221089632

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T1 - The PROMoting THE USE of SWATs (PROMETHEUS) Programme

T2 - lessons learnt and future developments for SWATs

AU - Clark, Laura Kate

AU - Arundel, Catherine Ellen

AU - Coleman, Elizabeth

AU - Doherty, Laura

AU - Parker, Adwoa

AU - Hewitt, Catherine Elizabeth

AU - Beard, David John

AU - Bower, Peter

AU - Brocklehurst, Paul

AU - Cooper, Cindy

AU - Culliford, Lucy

AU - Devane, Declan

AU - Elmsley, Richard

AU - Eldridge, Sandra

AU - Galvin, Sandra

AU - Gillies, Katie

AU - Montgomery, Alan

AU - Sutton, Chris

AU - Treweek, Shaun

AU - Torgerson, David John

PY - 2022/9/1

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N2 - Introduction: The PROMETHEUS programme (PROMoting THE USE of SWATs) was funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) infrastructure funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The purpose was to develop strategies to increase the recruitment and retention evidence base. This paper aims to present observations from this work. Observations: The PROMETHUS programme funded 42 SWATs, the average cost of each SWAT was £4,007. A central coordination point enabled a concentrated effort in SWAT research activity leading to a rapid increase in the evidence base. The methodological feasibility of undertaking a coordinated SWAT design was established. The international Trial Forge SWAT Network was developed in 2021 to connect research groups in response for the need to connect teams undertaking methodological research. A SWAT reporting template and a database of researchers willing to peer-review SWATs are also needed to improve the reporting of SWATs. Discussion: There is a need to develop a strategy to aid teams to identify a suitable SWAT for their host trial populations and a mechanism to communicate SWAT research priorities. Work is needed to increase the awareness of the methodological importance of SWAT research with research teams and develop engagement strategies to increase SWAT activity. Continued collaboration with the HRA is necessary to refine the SWAT approvals process.Conclusion: The coordination PROMETHEUS provided is crucial to increasing the recruitment retention evidence base. The Trial Forge Network will be key to provide ongoing networking and dissemination opportunities.

AB - Introduction: The PROMETHEUS programme (PROMoting THE USE of SWATs) was funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) and Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) infrastructure funding from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The purpose was to develop strategies to increase the recruitment and retention evidence base. This paper aims to present observations from this work. Observations: The PROMETHUS programme funded 42 SWATs, the average cost of each SWAT was £4,007. A central coordination point enabled a concentrated effort in SWAT research activity leading to a rapid increase in the evidence base. The methodological feasibility of undertaking a coordinated SWAT design was established. The international Trial Forge SWAT Network was developed in 2021 to connect research groups in response for the need to connect teams undertaking methodological research. A SWAT reporting template and a database of researchers willing to peer-review SWATs are also needed to improve the reporting of SWATs. Discussion: There is a need to develop a strategy to aid teams to identify a suitable SWAT for their host trial populations and a mechanism to communicate SWAT research priorities. Work is needed to increase the awareness of the methodological importance of SWAT research with research teams and develop engagement strategies to increase SWAT activity. Continued collaboration with the HRA is necessary to refine the SWAT approvals process.Conclusion: The coordination PROMETHEUS provided is crucial to increasing the recruitment retention evidence base. The Trial Forge Network will be key to provide ongoing networking and dissemination opportunities.

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DO - 10.1177/26320843221089632

M3 - Article

SN - 2632-0843

VL - 3

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EP - 106

JO - Research Methods in Medicine & Health Sciences

JF - Research Methods in Medicine & Health Sciences

IS - 4

ER -

The PROMoting THE USE of SWATs (PROMETHEUS) Programme: lessons learnt and future developments for SWATs

Abstract

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Routinely Embedding Recruitment and Retention Interventions Within Randomised Trials

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