Trial Forge Guidance 5: ethical considerations in randomised Studies Within A Trial (SWATs)

Randomised trials often struggle with recruitment, retention, and delays, impacting both finances and patient care. To improve trial processes, trialists can do Studies Within A Trial (SWATs) that compare trial process alternatives. A SWAT is a self-contained research study that is embedded within a host trial, or several host trials, with the aim of evaluating or exploring alternative ways of delivering or organising a particular trial process. Although SWATs are recognised by funders, there are differences in how they are implemented, such as different consent requirements in the UK and Ireland. This complicates SWAT conduct, raises ethical considerations, and highlights the need for standardised, ethical approaches to SWATs. The purpose of the current study was to devise guidance to address this.