The NIHR is launching a new campaign to empower patients and encourage engagement in clinical research – and we are calling on all NIHR-funded researchers to take part.

The ‘OK to ask about clinical research’ campaign launches on International Clinical Trials Day, on 20 May and is aimed at encouraging patients and their carers to ask their doctors about clinical research and whether it is right for them.
 
At present, patients are often unaware of clinical research opportunities unless they are asked to take part by a clinician. Whilst the clinician-initiated approach to recruitment has been very successful, the NIHR also wants to empower patients to start conversations about research if they want to. This could have a positive impact on the speed of recruitment to studies and the general research culture across healthcare providers, which would be beneficial to researchers.

Whilst the main part of the campaign will be patient-focused, the NIHR is calling upon individual researchers and research groups to support the drive to empower patients in clinical research.

OK to ask about clinical research
http://www.crncc.nihr.ac.uk/oktoask