Use of routinely collected data in a UK cohort ofpublicly funded randomised clinical trials [version 3; peer review: 2 approved]

Routinely collected data about health in medical records, and hospital activity statistics is now routinely collected in an form. The extent to which such sources of data are now The aim of this study was to ascertain current practice amongst a United Kingdom (UK) cohort of recently funded and ongoing controlled trials (RCTs) in relation to sources and use of routinely collected outcome Recently funded and ongoing RCTs were identified for inclusion by searching the National Institute for Health Research journals library. Trials that have a protocol available were assessed for inclusion and those that use or plan to use routinely collected health data (RCHD) information were extracted. sole source of outcome data for at least one outcome in 46 (45%) of Statistics (HES) and Office for National Statistics (ONS), with the most admission, and health service resource use. Our study has found that around half of publicly funded trials in a UK collect outcome data from routinely collected data sources.