Participant in Research Experience Survey (PRES) yields positive feedback for PrEPS study
The Participant in Research Experience Survey (PRES) got off to a flying start in January in both the quality and quantity of survey responses collected across the North East and North Cumbria. 2021 continues to be a successful year for PRES as we hear about the positive experiences of study teams using the survey.
PRES captures feedback from research participants to better understand their experience in taking part in research. The short online survey is completed by participants either at the clinic with a member of the study team, or by themselves at home. PRES benefits study teams by giving them access to near real-time participant feedback, which allows them to respond faster to any opportunities to improve participants’ research experience.
One of the studies to have implemented PRES in the region is the Prehabilitation in Elective Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery (PrEPS) study, which investigates whether an exercise programme carried out in the weeks leading up to heart surgery can improve fitness and lead to better outcomes for patients after surgery.
Jason Tate, Cardio Research Assistant at the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, fed back on his experience of using PRES for the PrEPS study: “PRES has given our patients the chance to reflect on everything they have gone through. They have all had a major operation and taking part in the PrEPS study has allowed them to prepare for their operation physically, mentally and emotionally with support from the research team, research nurses and pre-habilitation team.
“We have received very positive comments from participants through PRES. I share these comments with the research teams. We are living in strange times due to Covid-19, but feedback like this gives the whole team a boost they deserve.”
One research participant from the study commented that “to actually have someone with a heart model showing me exactly what was going to happen made me feel so much more confident about the surgery. I was able to ask questions and get straight answers, no matter how complicated the question was. The PrEPS team helped me mentally prepare for my operation and they were very professional in every way. My family and I want to thank everyone in the PrEPS team from the bottom of our hearts.”
Jason also spoke about the challenges of offering PRES during Covid-19: “Prior to the pandemic, I was able to speak to study participants directly regarding PRES. This time around I wasn't expecting a great response due to the lack of face-to-face engagements. However, I adapted my ways of working so that the impact of Covid on PRES responses has been minimised.
“I have managed this by encouraging participants to complete PRES surveys remotely. This reduces face-to-face clinic times, which can only be a good thing during the pandemic. I have contacted some patients who have consented to PRES via email, so that they could complete the survey at home. South Tees NHS Foundation Trust has achieved 333 PRES responses so far and the numbers are increasing daily. These responses help us to see things from the patient’s perspective and that data can be used to make changes to improve their experiences.”
Chris Speed, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at NIHR Clinical Research North East and North Cumbria said: “I am delighted to see teams adapting to new ways of working throughout the last 12 months and continuing to focus on participants’ experience. Giving participants the opportunity to provide feedback on their research experience is important in our work and reflects the view that people are at the centre of the CRN’s business.”
You can keep up-to-date with regional, site- and study-specific PRES data online. If you would like to start using PRES for your study, please email helen.atkinson@nihr.ac.uk. Additional PRES resources and information can be found on the PRES pages of our website.
