Behind the Scenes of The TONiC Study
When you join the TONiC study (or most other studies), a timeline commences, and the study team will request you to do the next activity at a certain target date
6/9 months since the last questionnaire
Consent Date
Target Date
In the case of our TONiC questionnaires, the target date is 9 months after the last time one was done. This is
• to ensure that the data we receive is at similar intervals for all participants
• to organise our interactions with you around structured timepoints
However, it's not realistic to have a single target date that we are all working to, as real life gets in the way! Therefore we use a target window. For questionnaires, this is plus or minus three months leeway each side of the target date.
For MS participants, the following window is used:
For MND participants, the following window is used:
We ideally would like at least 3 completed questionnaires from each participant. If you would like to know more about this, please click here for MS and here for MND.
Target Window has 6 months leeway
Target Window has 6 months leeway
For clinical research visits, whereby measurements are done, or a treatment is given, there is only 1 month leeway each side of the target date- i.e. the target window is only 2 months in this case.
Why are target windows important?
Because adherence to the target window makes our data robust, and comparable from participant to participant...
..and when target windows are not adhered to, we have to do extra work- statistical tweaks - in order for the data to be utilised
Please help us to keep you within your target window by accepting clinic slots we have available- these are often arranged at times that are suitable for the processing of blood samples by our laboratory.
And please return each questionnaire to us in a timely manner so that we can use your data effectively!
Many Thanks, from the TONiC team.