Providing an evidence base to optimise methods for involving patient and public representatives in clinical trials: A systematic investigation of a cohort of Health Technology Assessment funded clinical trials

2012 Conference

Abstract:
In recent years it has been well documented that Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) are regarded as particularly likely to benefit from patient and public involvement (PPI) which can start at various stages of a trial and influence many aspects. We are currently working on a joint funded NIHR HS&DR/INVOLVE project to really understand how to optimise patient and public involvement in randomised control trials (RCTs) but before this we need to understand current public involvement processes to determine whether there is overall impact.

The aim of this workshop is to highlight findings to date of patient and public involvement practices, experience and impact within an unselected cohort of RCTs funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme between 2006-2010. We will start by providing a brief overview of the project and key phases. We will then present the findings from the first two phases and how the PPI Advisory Group shaped these findings. This will be followed by small group work to inform the next phase of the project which is to explore what actually took place asking
researchers and patients/members of the public who were involved for their views via surveys and in-depth qualitative interviews. Feedback from this session will be used to inform the subsequent development of interview questions.