Independent but coordinated trials: insights from the practice-based Opportunities for Weight Reduction Trials Collaborative Research Group.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) funded three institutions to conduct effectiveness trials of weight loss interventions in primary care settings. Unlike traditional multi-center clinical trials, each study was established as an independent trial with a distinct protocol. Still, efforts were made to coordinate and standardize several aspects of the trials. The three trials formed a collaborative group, the 'Practice-based Opportunities for Weight Reduction (POWER) Trials Collaborative Research Group.'

Purpose

We describe the common and distinct features of the three trials, the key characteristics of the collaborative group, and the lessons learned from this novel organizational approach.

Methods

The Collaborative Research Group consists

SUBMITTER: Yeh HC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3266125 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature