Journal of Clinical Epidemiology : Using short information leaflets as recruitment tools did not improve recruitment: a randomized controlled trial

Objective

To assess if the type of patient information leaflet (PIL) received at an initial invitation to participate in a randomized trial influences the number of patients recruited.

Conclusion

Providing patients with shorter PILs when inviting them to participate in research does not affect the numbers who are subsequently recruited and yields more ineligible patients. Therefore, it is recommended to use the full PIL as a recruitment tool.