Study design:
(1) Follow-up goals should be reasonable and achievable.
Participant enrollment:
(1) Exclude before randomization those likely to move.
(2) Exclude before randomization those likely to be unwilling to return.
(3) Obtain accurate and complete contact information (address, phone number, email addresses, place of work, family doctor, close friends or relatives).
(4) Obtain reliable identification numbers (such as a health number in countries with a national health services).
Study management:
(1) Assign a person to be responsible for patient follow-up.
(2) Follow-up should be aggressive. If a person is not returning for follow-up, then the participant should be called or visited.
Trial procedures:
(1) Select convenient sites for follow-up.
(2) Expedite participant follow-up visits, with minimum waiting times.
(3) Keep data collection instruments short and easy to complete.
Patient care issues:
(1) Provide excellent and free medical care.
(2) Provide monetary subsidies, including adequate reimbursement for time and travel costs.
