Use of remote phone consenting to improve patient recruitment for PQIP

Abstract

Background: Patient recruitment is essential for collecting robust and reliable data for Perioperative Quality Improvement Projects (PQIP).1 Research nurses involved in recruiting the patients play a key role in achieving this aim. COVID-related absence, difficulty in recruiting early in the morning, and short staffing of research nurses were the main causes for lapses in patient recruitment in our setup. We wanted to improve our patient recruitment rate by using remote phone consenting for our patients.2 Methods: An initial audit was done to identify the patient recruitment rate for PQIP-eligible patients with in-person consenting. Data were collected for 2 weeks. Subsequently, remote phone consenting was implemented where all the required information about PQIP was given over the phone and consent was obtained. A re-audit was done after 4 weeks. Results: The initial audit showed a PQIP-eligible patient recruitment rate of 54% while 27% of potential recruits were missed: 18% of patients declined to participate (Fig. 11). The post-intervention audit showed an improvement in recruitment rate of up to 73% with no potential recruit missed: 27% of the patients declined to participate (Fig. 11). Conclusion: Remote phone consenting is an effective and efficient way to increase patient recruitment rates for PQIP. 1)Perioperative Quality Improvement Programme. About PQIP. Available from https://pqip.org.uk/pages/aboutpqip (accessed 17 March 2023)2)Welch BM, Marshall E, Qanungo S, et al. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2016; 3: 74–9