The term #estimand is now part of the technical language of trials - but it remains a concept that many find hard to understand. Recent work has aimed to make the term more accessible to researchers, patients & public 1/8 #MethodologyMonday #127

In the EVERDAC trial involving patients with shock, results for death at day 28 indicated that management without early arterial catheter insertion was noninferior to early catheter insertion. Full trial results and Research Summary: nej.md/3LmOO0D  #MedSky #PulmSky

The world’s largest and longest clinical trial in critical care, SuDDICU found a significant reduction in hospital-acquired infection in critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation, when given antibiotics preventatively before a new infection can develop.

In the SuDDICU trial of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit, selective decontamination of the digestive tract did not result in a lower incidence of in-hospital death than standard care alone. Full trial results: nej.md/4nhyeN8 #LIVES2025 | @esicm.bsky.social

📢 Interested in a PhD in clinical trials methodology? The Trials Methodology Research Partnership are advertising projects for PhDs starting Oct 2026, in statistics, health economics, epidemiology, social science, and more, hosted at one of 12 UK partner institutions. mrctmrpdtp.com/current-oppo...

Recruitment has begun for a new National Statistician (£200k). Important role as the strategic head of the UK statistical system. There is less operational work as there is now a Perm Sec for ONS. So they are seeking an ‘internationally recognised leader in statistics’ www.saxbam.com/appointment/...

📢 As one of the next round of TRMP PhD students (below) you could join me, Clare Robinson, @averoniki.bsky.social and @marionkcampbell.bsky.social to work on developing a typology of research outputs in trials methodology, based at @wiphcem.bsky.social. Details here: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

It’s the UN #WorldStatisticsDay today! Perfect time to celebrate all the awesome statisticians who ensure robust data, design and analysis 😊

One of the adaptive designs we are seeing more frequently is the Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomised Trial (or SMART trial) 1/7 #MethodologyMonday #126

The 8th & final trial for CCR Down Under is ECMO Rehab ➡️100-patient RCT testing early mobilisation during ECMO to reduce 6-month disability ➡️Will mobilisation improve outcomes? Join us in Melbourne, December 9/10 criticalcarereviews.com/meetings/ccr...

A special issue from Critical Care Resuscitation Journal honouring the legacy of Rinaldo Bellomo Grab a coffee, sit back, read and smile. Such an incredible person. An uplifting tribute. Kudos to the authors for sharing their experiences www.sciencedirect.com/journal/crit...

Lovely autumn colours on campus 🍂🍁 @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social

I'm doing a webinar in two weeks (15 Oct 1-2pm BST), part of NIHR Research Support Service's Methods Academy series, on the age-old question: should I do a stepped wedge trial? Free registration, details here: tinyurl.com/z6cjvce3 @nihr-rss.bsky.social @wiphcem.bsky.social @qmul-wiph.bsky.social

Excellent three days in Bristol as part of the #BOASTiC (Bristol Oxford Aberdeen Surgical Trials Course). We've enjoyed the in-depth look at surgical trials with delegates designing their own studies by the end of the 3rd day! @marionkcampbell.bsky.social @situ-oxford.bsky.social

Great #MethodologyMonday post on assessing acceptability in a pilot trial. Highlights the MRC complex intervention framework that AIMS Periop has used in its frailty research.

One of the key things to address when undertaking a feasibility study ahead of a trial is the acceptability of different aspects of the proposed trial (intervention, trial processes, proposed outcomes etc) to all relevant parties 1/7 #MethodologyMonday #125

The use of Bayesian methods in the design of trials and the analysis of the findings provides several potential benefits, which may be particularly applicable in Trauma & Orthopaedic surgery. #ClinicalTrials #BayesianStatistics #RCTs #OrthoSky @docfarrow.bsky.social ow.ly/xeXm50WRwZN

We're currently looking for a Trials Methodologist/Senior Trials Methodologist to join our team. You can find out more about the role and how to apply here: jobs.icr.ac.uk/vacancies/13... #ResearchJobs #TrialsMethodology🧪

This👇 …. often unseen but crucial role

Monday wisdom

📣FUNDING ALERT: The NIHR/MRC Better Methods Better Research Programme has three new calls open: - Researcher-Led - Methodology for the incorporation of health and environmental impacts in health/social care - Guidance development Closing 2nd Dec See: www.nihr.ac.uk/funding-oppo...

For Monday crowd. INSPECT-SR, a tool to help you identify problematic (inc. fraudulent) RCTs, now available.

I seem to have been discussing pilot and feasibility studies a lot this week. One question often asked is how big should my pilot/feasibility study be? 1/6 #MethodologyMonday #124

We are co-authors on 2 new papers in @bonejointjournal.bsky.social - one on the potential of Bayesian trials in T&O and a Bayesian reanalysis of the WHiTE8 trial. And … our own Jemma Hudson is the featured author 😊 @docfarrow.bsky.social @marionkcampbell.bsky.social Links to papers below 👇

The four UK higher education funding bodies confirm the pause in the criteria setting and publication of final guidance for REF 2029 for a short period, as announced by the UK Science Minister Lord Vallance today at the Universities UK conference. 2029.ref.ac.uk/news/pause-t...

Scottish beach advice for the Summer. Arrive early to grab a spot 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

There has been a lot of debate recently about the promise of real world data - the routine (observational) data collected on patients eg  treatments received, clinical outcomes etc – for estimating treatment effects. But can they deliver? 1/9 #MethodologyMonday #123

Ahoy! Learn about the importance of randomisation through history in my library at www.jameslindlibrary.org. For example, read how the GISSI trials embedded patient and public health oriented randomised trials into the Italian health service 40 years ago www.jameslindlibrary.org/articles/emb...

There has been a lot of debate recently about the promise of real world data - the routine (observational) data collected on patients eg  treatments received, clinical outcomes etc – for estimating treatment effects. But can they deliver? 1/9 #MethodologyMonday #123

Two of the key findings are: ➡️ The considerable emotional labour involved in patient feedback ➡️ Direct changes from individual feedback stories were limited but change can occur in other ways @louiselocock.bsky.social @marionkcampbell.bsky.social @ace-aberdeen.bsky.social

Delighted to have this publication out at Patient Experience Journal This shares some of the findings from my PhD at @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social, funded by @thisinstitute.cam.ac.uk pxjournal.org/journal/vol1...

How to demonstrate ‘promise of the intervention’ ahead of an RCT of the intervention? If you’d like to participate in the final round of the Promise Delphi, even if you didn’t do Round 1, then get in touch!

The 5th trial to be announced for CCR Down Under 2025 is ACTiVE Effect of automated closed-loop ventilation versus conventional ventilation on duration and quality of ventilation in critically ill patients Join us in Melbourne, either in-person or online criticalcarereviews.com/meetings/ccr...

📌 The SPIRIT 2025 statement updates the guidelines for randomized trial protocols to enhance their completeness, transparency, and consistency, benefiting stakeholders involved in clinical research. ja.ma/4fzMVZS

🚩The 3rd trial result for CCR Down Under 2025 is ARISE-AFRICA🚩 ➡️Standard low flow oxygen vs nasal high flow oxygen vs CPAP in hypoxaemic respiratory failure ➡️Presenter Arthur Kwizera ➡️Join us in Melbourne criticalcarereviews.com/meetings/ccr... @precordialthump.bsky.social

CCR Down Under 2025 - december 9th & 10th 2025 Melbourne is the place to be! Registrations are open 😁: criticalcarereviews.com/meetings/ccr... See you there! @criticalcarereviews.com

The first trial for CCR Down Under 2025 is RSI from the Pragmatic Critical Care Research Group ➡️Ketamine vs etomidate for emergency tracheal intubation ➡️n= 2364 Join us in Melbourne - Dec 9 & 10 criticalcarereviews.com/meetings/ccr... CCR Down Under is run with the Alfred ICU & Monash Uni

We often now hear the term “Bayesian borrowing” in trials. But what is Bayesian borrowing and what are the pros and cons around its use? 1/6 #MethodologyMonday #122

20 seconds of the sounds of the North Atlantic this morning (by Upper Loch Torridon).

Little by little one travels far. Writing one sentence or paragraph seems so little but that's how papers and chapters and books get written. Take the next step. Write the next sentence. Do the next thing. #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc #gradschool

See below for our Greener Trials Carbon Footprinting Drop In clinics...

@jameslindalliance.bsky.social priority setting survey for UTI, looking for responses from patients, clinicians and stakeholders. Pls help share to ensure a representative sample #UTISKY @jennyrohn.bsky.social @angelahuttner.bsky.social @gpollara.bsky.social www.surveymonkey.com/r/UTI_PSP

Here’s a new interesting thing for a Monday morning…

What's the word for that feeling when you realise that something you thought was a strange coincidence in your particular trial is actually a well described phenomenon?! 😅

Fascinating thread of an instance of what we behavioural scientists call the "planning fallacy" with reference to clinical trials.

Little considered causes: - Lack of a proper pre-assessment of the workload for clinicians (medics, nurses). Workload starts being overwhelming & recruitment stops - Clinicians being asked to do additional, technical roles for the RCT: data entry (apart from the usual clinical entries), lab work

Over recent weeks I have heard about some trials struggling with the phenomenon known as “Lasagne’s Law.” I’ve flagged this issue before, but always good to revisit it and discuss what can be done to minimise it 1/7 #MethodologyMonday #121

Excellent #MethodologyMonday post on composite outcomes. Everyone knows why they’re used but wishes they weren’t.

At #CCR25, we saw some trials use a #CompositeOutcome (an endpoint that combines more than one outcome into a single measure) & also saw some of the problems these can throw up. I have discussed these before but thought it would be useful to revisit 1/9 #MethodologyMonday #120

Big change to portability rules for #REF2029