Methodological challenges in online trials

Murray, Elizabeth, Khadjesari, Zarnie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2958-9555, White, Ian R., Kalaitzaki, Eleftheria, Godfrey, Christine, McCambridge, Jim, Thompson, Simon G. and Wallace, Paul (2009) Methodological challenges in online trials. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 11 (2). ISSN 1439-4456

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Abstract

Health care and health care services are increasingly being delivered over the Internet. There is a strong argument that interventions delivered online should also be evaluated online to maximize the trial's external validity. Conducting a trial online can help reduce research costs and improve some aspects of internal validity. To date, there are relatively few trials of health interventions that have been conducted entirely online. In this paper we describe the major methodological issues that arise in trials (recruitment, randomization, fidelity of the intervention, retention, and data quality), consider how the online context affects these issues, and use our experience of one online trial evaluating an intervention to help hazardous drinkers drink less (DownYourDrink) to illustrate potential solutions. Further work is needed to develop online trial methodology.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 09 Apr 2018 15:30
Last Modified: 14 Dec 2023 02:43
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/66705
DOI: 10.2196/jmir.1052

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