ArticleJournal of evaluation in clinical practice2004
Design and analysis of pilot studies: recommendations for good practice.
Article in Journal of evaluation in clinical practice, 2004. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 32 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 1,243 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Does Glycated Hemoglobin Variability in Type 2 Diabetes Differ Depending on the Diabetes Treatment Threshold Used in the Qatari Population: Implication on Diabetes Complication Risk?
Efficacy of Atorvastatin vs Colchicine in Decrease of Troponin I of High Sensitivity as a Biomarker of Myocardial Damage in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis With Severe Activity.
Self-management of Postnatal Anti-hypertensive Treatment: a Trial Development Pilot Study
A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blinded, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Rebamipide as an Adjuvant Regimen to Heal erosIve Reflux Esophagitis (REPAIR)
Organization of Ambulatory Telemonitoring of People With Hearing Loss and Having a Cochlear Implant.
Multimodality Investigation of Intermediate Culprit Lesion With Negative Fractional Flow Reserve in Patients With no ST-segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome.
Thymic Generation of Regulatory T Lymphocytes in Type I Diabetes Patients.
Effects of Hip Distraction Without a Perineal Post on Venous Blood Flow and Peripheral Nerve Conduction During Hip Arthroscopic Procedures Clinical Protocol: Prospective Study
Pilot, Open Non-controled Trial to Assess the Feasibility of Implementing Objective Parameters as Primary Endpoints in a Clinical Trial With Patients Affected by Knee Osteoarthritis
Rivaroxaban for Improvement of Thromboembolism Outcomes in Patients With Multiple Myeloma on Lenalidomide-based Therapy: RithMM Trial
A Pilot Randomised Control Trial to Measure the Effectiveness of Combined Modulated Ultrasound and Electric Current Stimulation in Treating Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effects of a Nutraceutical Containing High-Molecular-Weight Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and Acetyl-11-Keto-Beta-Boswellic Acid (AKBA) in Patients Affected by Knee Osteoarthritis
Exploring 'VOLITION' in Context - a Study to Inform the Implementation of a New Intervention
Feasibility, User Experiences, and Preliminary Effectiveness of Conversation Cards for Adolescents, a Patient-centered Communication and Behavior Change Tool: a Pragmatic, Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Self-acupressure for Cancer-related Symptom Cluster of Insomnia, Depression, and Anxiety in Cancer Patients: a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial
Continuous Non-Invasive Eye Tracking for the Early Detection of Delirium on the Intensive Care Unit
Enhancing Resilience in Senior Living Community Residents
A Prospective Intra-patient Single-blinded Randomised Trial to Examine the Mechanistic Basis of fractiOnal Ablative carbOn Dioxide Laser Therapy in Treating Adult Burns and/or Trauma Patients With Hypertrophic Scarring
Evaluating Quality of Life of AF Patients Following a Bleed
The Impact of a Remotely-Delivered Yoga Intervention on Cognitive Function in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Feasibility Study
Lifestyle Behaviours of Women Newly Diagnosed With Heart Failure: A Quantitative and Qualitative Approach
Enhancing Resilience in Senior Living Community Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial
A Brief Intervention Targeting Anhedonia in Adolescents: a Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial
Feasibility and Usefulness of a Neuropsychological Telerehabilitation Program in Asymptomatic HIV Patients: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Caring for Caregivers and People Living With Dementia Under Home-Based Primary Care
Removing Surrogates' Uncertainty to Reduce Fear and Anxiety After Cardiac Events (RESURFACE): A Randomized Pilot Intervention Study
The Effectiveness of Anti-spastic Splint With Added Focal Muscle Vibration (FMV) in Decreasing Hand Spasticity and Improving Hand Functionality Among Individuals With Chronic Stroke: a Pilot Randomized Control Trial
Health Coaching in Addition to a Digital Resource to Promote Self-management for Patients Waiting for Total Hip or Knee Replacements: A Randomised Feasibility Trial
Pilot Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Multimodal Management With Peritoneal Lavage Using Saline Solution Versus Saline Solution With Ondansetron in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
A Remotely-Delivered Resistance Training Program for Cognitive Function in Men Living With and Beyond Prostate Cancer: A Feasibility Study
CARE: Comprehensive Assessment of Real-world Effectiveness of F/TAF in Persons Who Use Drugs (PWUD)
Intervention Program for Psychological Well-Being in Institutionalized Older Adults Through Virtual Reality
Who cites it
1,243 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Laparoscopic versus open ileostomy closure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of postoperative outcomes.International journal of colorectal disease · 2025Pooled it
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- Low Molecular Weight Heparin Thromboprophylaxis or No Treatment following Cesarean Delivery: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.American journal of perinatology · 2026Trial
- Trial
- The Effects of Short-Term Post-Exposure to 3.6 GHz 5G Mobile Phone Electromagnetic Exposure on Static and Dynamic Postural Control in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Pilot Study.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Trial
- Chilling the nerve, easing the pain?: A randomized clinical trial evaluating surgeon-administered bedside percutaneous cryoneurolysis for rib fracture pain.The journal of trauma and acute care surgery · 2026Trial
- Trial
- Trial
- Testing the Acceptability, Feasibility, and Preliminary Efficacy of an Internet-delivered Positive Classroom Management Training (iPCMT) for Elementary School Educators.Research on child and adolescent psychopathology · 2026Trial
- A mobile phone application for the prevention of type 2 diabetes in Malaysian women with gestational diabetes mellitus (MYGODDESS): A feasibility randomised controlled trial.Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association · 2026Trial
- Effects of Tai Chi training on lower-limb coordination pattern and variability during walking in patients with functional ankle instability: a pilot randomized controlled trial.Scientific reports · 2026Trial
- DIALOG+ for service users with chronic depression: a cluster-randomised controlled feasibility trial and qualitative evaluation.BMC psychiatry · 2026Trial
- A Mobile Self-Assessment and Referral Platform for Family Caregivers of Individuals With Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2026Trial
- Hybrid versus cemented implants for total hip replacement: a randomised feasibility study with embedded qualitative research.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2026Trial
- Helping Others Promote Engagement in Gambling Support (HOPE-Gam): a Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial.Journal of gambling studies · 2026Trial
- Trial
- Study protocol and pilot study results for a clinical intervention trial of PKU carriers and non-carriers: the Phe for Me trial.Orphanet journal of rare diseases · 2026Trial
- Yoga-Based Group Intervention for Inpatients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders-Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Outcomes of a Rater-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.Schizophrenia bulletin · 2026Trial
- Trial
- The Multidisciplinary Support To Access living donor Kidney Transplant (MuST AKT) intervention: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.Transplant international : official journal of the European Society for Organ Transplantation · 2026Trial
1,183 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Pilot studies play an important role in health research, but they can be misused, mistreated and misrepresented. In this paper we focus on pilot studies that are used specifically to plan a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Citing examples from the literature, we provide a methodological framework in which to work, and discuss reasons why a pilot study might be undertaken. A well-conducted pilot study, giving a clear list of aims and objectives within a formal framework will encourage methodological rigour, ensure that the work is scientifically valid and publishable, and will lead to higher quality RCTs. It will also safeguard against pilot studies being conducted simply because of small numbers of available patients.
Indexed as
Identifiers
15189396What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.