Research? It's Ok to Ask This year, the NIHR Clinical Research Network is supporting the NIHR Ok to ask campaign, now in its third consecutive year. One of the main aims of the campaign is to encourage more patients to ask about research opportunities that could be available to them if they have a medical condition they are receiving treatment for, so this campaign is about empowering patients to ask about research.
It’s also about reminding all healthcare professionals from consultants and doctors to nurses, midwives and carers, whether research-active or not, to be research-aware. We know that research professionals across the NIHR actively promote opportunities to patients about research but there is a much wider opportunity to encourage all healthcare professionals to get involved in and support research activity.
International Clinical Trials Day is on or around 20 May each year, and commemorates the anniversary of the very first clinical trial by James Lind. The date offers an opportunity for those working in the research field to take action to raise the profile of clinical research in the NHS in England (and beyond).
We are calling on your support for the Ok to ask campaign this year.
Why "it's OK to ask"?
Clinical research is thriving in the NHS. Nevertheless, research has low visibility in the NHS (little information about research is openly available to patients) and most patients are unaware of local opportunities unless they are approached to take part in a particular study by their doctor or nurse.
Despite the success of this clinician-led approach, we want patients to have both the information and the confidence to raise the subject of clinical research themselves if they wish to do so - without always having to rely on the first approach coming from a clinician.
According to a consumer poll by the NIHR Clinical Research Network:
The main aims of the campaign are:
It’s also about reminding all healthcare professionals from consultants and doctors to nurses, midwives and carers, whether research-active or not, to be research-aware. We know that research professionals across the NIHR actively promote opportunities to patients about research but there is a much wider opportunity to encourage all healthcare professionals to get involved in and support research activity.
International Clinical Trials Day is on or around 20 May each year, and commemorates the anniversary of the very first clinical trial by James Lind. The date offers an opportunity for those working in the research field to take action to raise the profile of clinical research in the NHS in England (and beyond).
We are calling on your support for the Ok to ask campaign this year.
Why "it's OK to ask"?
Clinical research is thriving in the NHS. Nevertheless, research has low visibility in the NHS (little information about research is openly available to patients) and most patients are unaware of local opportunities unless they are approached to take part in a particular study by their doctor or nurse.
Despite the success of this clinician-led approach, we want patients to have both the information and the confidence to raise the subject of clinical research themselves if they wish to do so - without always having to rely on the first approach coming from a clinician.
According to a consumer poll by the NIHR Clinical Research Network:
- 95% of people said it was important to them that the NHS carries out clinical research
- Only 6% of those questioned said the public are well-informed about clinical research in the NHS
- Less than 21% said they would feel very confident about asking their doctor about research opportunities
The main aims of the campaign are:
- Patient activism: raise awareness amongst patients and patient groups about the role of research in the NHS, the role of patients in research, and that it’s OK to ask your doctor about clinical research and if it’s something they should consider.
- Clinician engagement: We want to encourage clinicians, those working in the clinical environment and others with care responsibility (e.g. in care homes) to think positively about patient approaches on research. We also want to encourage every NHS healthcare professional to be “thinking research” so that if any patient asks them about research they are aware of it and able to direct them accordingly.
This year’s activities
The NIHR is continuing to build on the success of the last two years but we are introducing some new elements for this year and building the campaign up a little earlier than usual. This year’s activities include:
Questions?
Simon Denegri, NIHR National Director for Public Participation and Engagement in Research is spearheading “OK to ask”.
For operational questions about the campaign please contact:
The NIHR is continuing to build on the success of the last two years but we are introducing some new elements for this year and building the campaign up a little earlier than usual. This year’s activities include:
- Launching a mock live “Breakfast Trial” experiment nationally. This is in advance of International Clinical Trials day and designed to illustrate the elements of a clinical trial and what it can be like to take part in a trial (trial week is 27 April - 1 May). This is our main media hook for this year and we would like as many people as possible to get involved.
- Widespread social media activity on Facebook and Twitter in the build-up to International Clinical Trials day through the NIHR Twitter and OK to ask Facebook page. We would like all partners and supporters to join in with this. (starting on 13 April).
“OK to ask hour” with a range of people from the research community on Twitter for five weeks in advance of International Clinical Trials Day (starting on 15 April).- Updating and adding to the pack of campaign materials for NHS Trusts and others to order as required from the online ordering site, http://nihrcrn.org.uk/ (available to order from 13 April).
- Updating the Ok to ask pages on the NIHR website.
- Providing copy for newsletters and press releases for both the “breakfast trial” launch (available from 13 April) and International Clinical Trials Day (available from 7 May).
- Conducting a radio day with Simon Denegri and patients (where possible) on International Clinical Trials Day (20 May).
Questions?
Simon Denegri, NIHR National Director for Public Participation and Engagement in Research is spearheading “OK to ask”.
For operational questions about the campaign please contact:
- Georgie Cameron, Interim Communications Director, tel: 07974 648057, email Georgie.cameron@admiralpr.com
- Sarah Wharton, Communications Manager, tel: 0113 343 4686 sarah.wharton@nihr.ac.uk
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