Wessex participants report positive experience of research for a third year
A survey conducted by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network (CRN) Wessex has seen local participants report having a positive experience of being involved in a research study for the third year running.
The 2019/20 CRN Wessex Participant in Research Experience Survey (PRES), which received 812 responses from research participants attending appointments at NHS organisations in the Wessex region, showed that:
- 91% of adult participants felt they had a good experience of taking part in research.
- 95% of carers surveyed felt the person they cared for had a good experience of taking part in research.
- 93% of participants surveyed said that their experience of taking part was positive and no part of the process required any improvement.
The survey, which ran for two months, provided an opportunity for research participants to anonymously share their experiences of being involved in a study. For the first time since it was established in 2017, this year’s CRN Wessex PRES included feedback from carers, children and young people.
Many of those surveyed reported that the research staff supporting them were friendly and helpful, and that they had been given all the information they needed before taking part in the study.
The survey also highlighted that one of the key motivators for taking part in clinical research was a desire to improve healthcare for future generations, with one patient explaining:
“It’s important for me to be part of the research group as I hope it will benefit other people and particularly descendants of my family.”
There were a number of recommended areas for improvement, including more flexible appointments times, a wider choice of hospitals or locations to attend appointments and more regulars updates on the progress of the study and any results.
Understanding the participant experience of research is key for CRN Wessex and its NHS partner organisations, who will use the feedback to shape how future research is delivered. A full report detailing the findings and a summary poster are available to view.
Alongside its partners, CRN Wessex plans to conduct its 2020/21 survey in October 2020.
