Table 4 Comparing post-trial follow-up (PTFU) costs (where disclosed), by different follow-up methodologies
From: Post-trial follow-up methodology in large randomised controlled trials: a systematic review
Type of follow-up, name of RCT or PTFU | Number of participants in PTFU | Duration of PTFU* | Incentive for participant follow-up | Cost of PTFU/grant received | Cost per participant per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clinical appointment only | |||||
ROADMAP | 2198 | 3.3 | Travel reimbursement €20 per visit | €3,000,000 | €413.60 |
Clinical appointment + telephone | |||||
LTPS | 6867 | 4 | – | US$14,600,000 | US$531.53 |
Data linkage/medical records only | |||||
RECORD | 4394 | 3 | No | £6,000 | £0.46 |
FOCUS | 2002 | 3 | No | US$75,000 | US$12.49 |
NORWIT, WENBIT | 6261 | 4 | Letters sent to offer withdrawal from PTFU (registry follow-up) | NOK 16,000 | NOK 0.64 |
RENAL | 1464 | 4 | No | Undisclosed – original recruiting sites paid for finding and contacting participants | |
CLARICOR | 4029 | 3 | – | £1,100,000 | £91.01 |
‘Over 50s’ | 3449 | 10 | no | £14,000 | £0.41 |
RITA-3 | 1810 | 5 | – | £359,577 | £39.73 |
SCAST | 1286 | 3 | no | £7,000 | €1.81 |
CAIFOS | 1510 | 4.5 | no | AUD 848,206 | AUD 124.83 |
IST-3 | 2348 | 1 | no | £500 | £0.21 |
Telephone + data linkage/medical records | |||||
ProHOSP | 925 | 6 | no | Negligible. Students conducted telephone follow-up as part of their training | – |
OAT | 1504 | 3 | no | US$100 administrative start-up, US$50 per call for each follow-up, US$30 per subject for re-consent payment, US$300 per event completing reporting | – |
ENIGMA | 2002 | 3.5 | no | AUD 53,807 | AUD 7.68 |
ENIGMA-II | 6651 | 1 | no | AUD 60,000 | AUD 9.02 |
Postal correspondence + data linkage/medical records | |||||
HPS | 17,519 | 6 | – | £250,000 | £2.38 |
ANBP2 | 6983 | 6.9 | no | AUD 18,000 | AUD 0.37 |
ACST-1 | 3120 | 4 | – | £120,000 | £9.62 |
VADT | 1791 | 5 | US$10 per survey gift card | US$10,00,000 | US$111.67 |
Postal correspondence +telephone + medical records | |||||
ADDRESS | 2621 | 1 | no | US$13,10,500 | US$500 |