Recruitment Request
Sunflower opened in January 2019 and we had immediate and significant interest across the surgical world. We hit our pilot target of 1700 patients and 50 centres and then the pandemic struck. Since the pandemic we have recruited nearly 3000 patients bringing us to a total of 4500 which is amazing. We have appointed over 140 Associate PIs which shows wonderful engagement from trainees, and we have recruited NHS patients being treated in private hospitals, but 9000 patients are still needed.
The trial was originally due to finish next month. We have just heard that NIHR have given us permission to continue recruiting, which is brilliant news. The Sunflower Data Monitoring Safety Committee have encouraged us to look at the data and reconsider the sample size, we will do this in December.
For Sunflower to succeed we need to refocus on recruitment. Currently we are recruiting about 150 per month. We need to double this. This means that each site needs to recruit a minimum of 8-10 patients per month. Currently, six centres are achieving this and others are encouraged to do likewise. Please make more effort to recruit.
Click here for more information
We are seeking highly motivated and enthusiastic trainee doctors to join our team and support the
recruitment of the Sunflower study - the UK's largest surgical randomised controlled trial (RCT).
Click here for role description for Regional Trainee Representatives for the Sunflower Study