Example
Last year, we started a randomized clinical trial in patients suffering from acute Whiplash Associated Disorders [4] (WAD) evaluating additional proprioceptive training (done by physiotherapists).
We planned to include 120 WAD patients between 4 days and 12 weeks after the car collision. Three measurements were scheduled. Each measurement included a questionnaire and measurement of the optokinetic reflex, cervico ocular reflex, and vestibular ocular reflex. Randomization took place after baseline measurement. We planned to measure again all patients of both groups at 9 (T2) and 26 (T3) weeks after randomization. Patients were recruited by participating General Practitioners (GPs) or at Emergency Departments (EDs) within Rotterdam and surroundings (6,61,887 persons [2005] [5]). A total of 260 GPs were contacted by phone, and 105 were willing to participate. Three out of five contacted EDs contributed in the trial and received patient information forms and posters to attract the physicians' and patients' attention.
The medical ethical committee of the Erasmus MC approved the study.
After 12 months, 79 probably eligible whiplash patients were referred to us (21 by their GP, 25 by the EDs, the rest of the subjects entered after radio or newspaper publicity).
Finally, only 11 whiplash patients met the selection criteria. Major reasons for exclusion were collision appeared more than 3 months ago (n = 8), subjects already received physiotherapy (n = 29), and no rear-end collision (n = 20). Reasons for withdrawal were recovery (n = 2), unknown (n = 1). Two patients did not show up for the baseline measurement even after three subsequent appointments were made.