Recommendations for optimising pilot and feasibility work in surgery

Table 1 Interview participant (n = 27) summary of demographic characteristics and surgical research/trials experience

Demographic	Number
Sex	Male				Female
Sex	18				9
Interview length	Mean (minutes)				Range (minutes)
Interview length	58				27–101
Interview mode	Telephone				Face to Face
Interview mode	17				10
Clinical role	Surgeon				Other clinical specialty
Clinical role	11 (n = 1 previous)				5 (n = 4 previous)
Roles held currently/recently relating to research and/or trials
Trial involvement	CI		CTU director		Statistician		Methodologist
Trial involvement	13		9		4		1
Funding panel member	Current				Previous
	Chair	Deputy chair		Member	Chair	Deputy chair		Member
	5	2		7	1	1		5
Editor	Current				Previous
Editor	15				2
University academic position held	Professor		Research Associate		Fellow		None
University academic position held	24		1		1		1

Key: CI chief investigator, CTU clinical trials unit, S surgeon, previous, no longer practicing in a clinical role

ISSN: 2055-5784