Pilot and feasibility studies in stroke rehabilitation: reporting quality, progression to trials, and barriers: a scoping review

Introduction: Pilot and feasibility studies are designed to determine whether a future trial is warranted. In stroke rehabilitation, such studies have been increasingly published over the years. To clarify how well these studies support future trials, we aimed to: (1) assess the quality of reporting of pilot and feasibility studies aimed to improve mobility (ie, walking) after stroke; (2) examine whether they progress to randomized controlled trials (RCTs); and (3) explore the barriers in following up on these studies. Design: Scoping review. Participants: Adults (>18 years) after stroke. Intervention: Interventions to improve mobility (ie, walking). Results: 28 papers were included. The quality of reporting of the studies was 6.1 out of 11 points. Only 3 out of 26 studies (12%) progressed to a definitive RCT. Of those authors who replied, the main reason for not proceeding to an RCT was lack of funding. Conclusion: The quality of reporting of pilot and feasibility studies still needs to improve, especially when describing the methods section. In addition, these studies should be designed a priori to provide transparency in reporting and enhance value in guiding future trials. Registration: 10.17605/OSF.IO/ENJ94.