Strategies for Recruitment and Consent in Intensive Care Studies

This research article presents a qualitative study aimed at identifying strategies to enhance recruitment and consent processes for clinical trials in intensive care units (ICUs). The study involved semistructured interviews with 17 UK-based researchers and 8 patient–public involvement (PPI) contributors, focusing on the challenges faced in recruiting patients who often lack decisional capacity. The analysis revealed seven key themes, including the need for substitute decision-making processes and the limitations of PPI contributions. Researchers reported difficulties with research ethics committees (RECs) regarding the approval of research without prior consent (RWPC) and highlighted resource constraints as significant barriers to recruitment. The findings suggest that improving REC expertise in consent processes, increasing staffing at research sites, and enhancing PPI involvement could lead to better recruitment outcomes. The article emphasizes the importance of aligning consent practices with the unique challenges of critical care research to facilitate patient participation and improve study outcomes.