Retention Strategy Section
SPIRIT 2025 item 25b asks protocols to describe plans to promote participant retention and complete follow-up, including outcome data sought after intervention discontinuation or protocol deviation. Retention methods depend on population, burden, setting, ethics approval, privacy constraints, and trial design; do not present one contact strategy as universally appropriate.
A Retention Strategy section explains how the study will support continued participant follow-up and what outcome data will still be collected when participants discontinue or deviate from assigned interventions.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
Retention methods depend on population, burden, setting, ethics approval, privacy constraints, and trial design; do not present one contact strategy as universally appropriate.
Further guidance
Content
Describe practical retention strategies, follow-up contacts or supports, and the outcome information intended to be collected after discontinuation or deviation when applicable.
Purpose
Make the planned retention and follow-up approach explicit enough for readers to understand how missing outcome data will be reduced.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- SPIRIT 2025 statement: updated guideline for protocols of randomised trials (opens in a new tab)BMJ / SPIRIT-CONSORT Group · Primary SPIRIT 2025 reporting guideline for the minimum content of randomized-trial protocols, including amendments and protocol transparency.
- SPIRIT 2025 explanation and elaboration: updated guideline for protocols of randomised trials (opens in a new tab)BMJ / SPIRIT-CONSORT Group · Primary SPIRIT 2025 explanation and elaboration for trial protocols, including trial monitoring and data monitoring committee roles and reporting structure.