Attitudes of patients and surgeons towards sham surgery trials: A protocol for a scoping review of attributes to inform a discrete choice experiment

Abstract

Introduction In order to properly evaluate the efficacy of orthopaedic procedures, rigorous, randomised controlled sham surgery trial designs are necessary. However, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for surgery involving a placebo are ethically debated and difficult to conduct with many failing to reach their desired sample size and power. A review of the literature on barriers and enablers to recruitment, and patient and surgeon attitudes and preferences towards sham surgery trials, will help to determine the characteristics necessary for successful recruitment. Methods and analysis This review will scope the diverse literature surrounding sham surgery trials with the aim of informing a ..