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El-Khechen HA, Khan MIU, Leenus S, Olaiya O, Durrani Z, Masood Z, Leenus A, Akhter S, Mbuagbaw L. Design, analysis, and reporting of pilot studies in HIV: a systematic review and methodological study. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2021; 7:211. [PMID: 34847957 PMCID: PMC8630899 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-021-00934-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pilot studies are essential in determining if a larger study is feasible. This is especially true when targeting populations that experience stigma and may be difficult to include in research, such as people with HIV. We sought to describe how pilot studies have been used to inform HIV clinical trials. Methods We conducted a methodological study of pilot studies of interventions in people living with HIV published until November 25, 2020, using Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL). We extracted data on their nomenclature, primary objective, use of progression criteria, sample size, use of qualitative methods, and other contextual information (region, income, level, type of intervention, study design). Results Our search retrieved 10,597 studies, of which 248 were eligible. The number of pilot studies increased steadily over time. We found that 179 studies (72.2%) used the terms “pilot” or “feasibility” in their title, 65.3% tested feasibility as a primary objective, only 2% used progression criteria, 23.9% provided a sample size estimation and only 30.2% used qualitative methods. Conclusions Pilot studies are increasingly being used to inform HIV research. However, the titles and objectives are not always consistent with piloting. The design and reporting of pilot studies in HIV could be improved. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40814-021-00934-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein Ali El-Khechen
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada.
| | - Mohammed Inam Ullah Khan
- Biostatistics Unit, Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre, St Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Selvin Leenus
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Oluwatobi Olaiya
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zoha Durrani
- Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Zaryan Masood
- Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alvin Leenus
- Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shakib Akhter
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Lawrence Mbuagbaw
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8, Canada.,Biostatistics Unit, Father Sean O'Sullivan Research Centre, St Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Center for the Development of Best Practices in Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon
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