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Table 4 Essential elements of a randomized controlled trial comparing fistulas to catheters in opinion of respondents, by geographic location

From: Willingness to participate in a randomized trial comparing catheters to fistulas for vascular access in incident hemodialysis patients: an international survey of nephrologists

 

Canada

Europe

Australia/NZ

p value

n (%)

n (%)

n (%)

 

N = 168

N = 29

N = 51

 

Protocol should be vetted by a national funding agency

110 (65.5)

11 (37.9)

23 (45.1)

<0.01

Data safety and monitoring board must provide oversight

139 (82.7)

12 (41.4)

40 (78.4)

<0.01

All hemodialysis patients should be studied

50 (29.8)

10 (34.5)

13 (25.5)

0.69

Only certain high-risk patient populations, where the benefit of fistulas is not clear based on observational studies, should be studied

101 (60.1)

14 (48.3)

30 (58.8)

0.49

Only patients who have failed a previous fistula attempt should be studied

12 (7.1)

5 (17.2)

7 (13.7)

0.13

Follow-up must be a minimum of 3 years

105 (62.5)

20 (69)

27 (52.9)

0.31

The study should only be conducted at centers with a primary failure rate of less than 50 % after fistula creation

63 (37.5)

8 (27.6)

15 (29.4)

0.40