Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust launches strategy to help researchers involve more patients in the design of research
Led by the Public Programmes team, CMFT has launched a strategy and guide for staff, which will help researchers involve patients in the design of research.
Increased engagement and involvement of patients in research has been shown to increase study recruitment/retention and improve patient experience¹, supporting the delivery of better healthcare through the development of new diagnostics, medicines and devices.
As part of the strategy, which has been developed by a staff and public steering group, CMFT will develop a group of patients and members of the public who are willing to work with/partner researchers across all of our hospitals to develop high-quality, relevant and inclusive research.
“Research gives hope and treatment to help allow people to fulfil their lives. Clinical research is at its best when it involves patients, carers and public in its design and delivery. The strategy will help drive consistency in terms of public involvement in the design of clinical studies, something which is proven to have a positive impact on research outcomes,” Kate McNulty, co-chair and patient representative on the CMFT Research and Innovation Division Involvement Group.
A guide for CMFT research staff has also been developed to help them embed patient and public involvement into their work.
Rick Body, Dr Rick Body, Consultant in Emergency Medicine at Manchester Royal Infirmary adds, “Patient and public involvement in research is something that every researcher should feel passionately about. We do clinical research because we want to improve their quality and length of life. To try to achieve that without involving the people that we intend to benefit would be futile.
“It’s so important to involve our patients at every stage in clinical research, from deciding what research we need to focus on to publicising our findings and helping to decide what they really mean for patients”.
Learn more about the value public and patient involvement can bring to your research.
The Public Programmes team provides support to all research and healthcare professional, policy makers and science industries.
Get in touch, publicprogrammes@cmft.nhs.uk to explore how you can work with them to maximise the impact of your research projects.
¹ Ennis, L. et al. Impact of patient involvement in mental health research: longitudinal study. British Journal of Psychiatry (Sept 2013) doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.112.119818.
