Home-Based Interventions may Increase Recruitment, Adherence, and Measurement of outcomes in Clinical Trials of Stroke Rehabilitation

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the completion rates of a home-based randomized trial, which examined home-based high-intensity respiratory muscle training after stroke compared with sham intervention. Materials and Methods Completion was examined in terms of recruitment (enrolment and retention), intervention (adherence and delivery of home-visits) and measurement (collection of outcomes). Results Enrolment was 32% and retention was 97% at post-intervention and 84% at follow-up. Adherence to the intervention was high at 87%. Furthermore, 83% of planned home-visits were conducted and 100% of outcomes were collected from those attending measurement sessions. Conclusion This home-based randomized trial demonstrated high rates of enrolment, retention, adherence, delivery of home-visits, and collection of outcomes. Home-based interventions may help to improve completion rates of randomized trials.