Standardized study performance, quality assurance, and quality control in a cluster-randomized trial: the Pneumococcal Vaccine Schedules trial

Bibliographic Details
Title: Standardized study performance, quality assurance, and quality control in a cluster-randomized trial: the Pneumococcal Vaccine Schedules trial
Authors: Isaac Osei, Benjamin Young, Golam Sarwar, Yekini A. Olatunji, Ilias Hossain, Babila G. Lobga, Baleng M. Wutor, Williams Adefila, Emmanuel Mendy, Banjo Adeshola, Yasir Shitu Isa, Yusuf A. Olawale, Keita M. Lamin, Ebrimah Nyimanta, Bubacarr Baldeh, Abdoullah Nyassi, Momodou M. Drammeh, Barjo Ousman, Minteh Molfa, Rasheed Salaudeen, Grant A. Mackenzie
Source: Trials, Vol 25, Iss 1, Pp 1-9 (2024)
Publisher Information: BMC, 2024.
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: LCC:Medicine (General)
Subject Terms: Quality assurance, Quality control, Cluster-randomized trial, Monitoring, Supervisory visits, Medicine (General), R5-920
More Details: Abstract Randomized controlled trials are considered the “gold standard” for evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention. However, large-scale, cluster-randomized trials are complex and costly to implement. The generation of accurate, reliable, and high-quality data is essential to ensure the validity and generalizability of findings. Robust quality assurance and quality control procedures are important to optimize and validate the quality, accuracy, and reliability of trial data. To date, few studies have reported on study procedures to assess and optimize data integrity during the implementation of large cluster-randomized trials. The dearth of literature on these methods of trial implementation may contribute to questions about the quality of data collected in clinical trials. Trial protocols should consider the inclusion of quality assurance indicators and targets for implementation. Publishing quality assurance and control measures implemented in clinical trials should increase public trust in the findings from such studies. In this manuscript, we describe the development and implementation of internal and external quality assurance and control procedures and metrics in the Pneumococcal Vaccine Schedules trial currently ongoing in rural Gambia. This manuscript focuses on procedures and metrics to optimize trial implementation and validate clinical, laboratory, and field data. We used a mixture of procedure repetition, supervisory visits, checklists, data cleaning and verification methods and used the metrics to drive process improvement in all domains.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1745-6215
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1745-6215
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-024-08677-7
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/77601153c63640b19c58d3d64462b74c
Accession Number: edsdoj.77601153c63640b19c58d3d64462b74c
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
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More Details
ISSN:17456215
DOI:10.1186/s13063-024-08677-7
Published in:Trials
Language:English