What is CRN Eastern Primary Care?

The mission of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the research arm of the NHS, is to maintain a health research system in which the NHS supports outstanding individuals, working in world class facilities, conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients and the public.

The NIHR is funded by the Department of Health.

The Clinical Research Network (CRN) Eastern is one of 15 CRN’s that cover England. Each CRN provides a wide range of support to the local research community covering 30 different specialties, one of which is Primary Care. Our practice participate in research activity and works closely with CRN Eastern creating more opportunities for more patients to be involved in research should they wish.

By building on and extending partnerships, with university academics and the NHS, research collaboration across the Eastern region is further strengthened.
CRN Eastern also helps our practice by supporting us to recruit and take part in clinical studies through their locally based research nurses and network coordinators.

What is Primary Care Research?

People use research to try and find the causes of diseases and to find better treatments and services for those diseases and improve patient care.

• Research is presented in different formats.
• Completing a questionnaire.
• Requesting the use of your anonymised data.
• Taking part in an interview.
• Testing new treatments, therapies or devices.
• Experiencing new combinations of treatments.

Patient participation and how to take part in research

There are different ways that patients can become involved in studies our practice is participating in.

• A doctor or nurse may talk to you about the study and ask whether you would consider taking part.
• You will be sent information through the post if we feel that you might be a suitable participant.
• You may read information on the website about a current study and wish to take part by contacting the practice.

Patients who express an interest in finding out more about a study will be asked for their permission to share their name and contact details with the study team. Some studies require direct contact between participants and the team, others involve contact through a member of practice staff or with a CRN research nurse.

• Participation in research is entirely voluntary and you have the right to say ‘No’. No one will put pressure on you to take part in research if you do not wish to. You do not have to give us a reason if you decide not to take part.
• Your care and your relationship with your doctor or nurse will not be affected in any way if you decide not to take part in a research study.
• You will always receive clear information about what taking part in a research study would involve. The practice will usually provide you with a patient information sheet; then, if you agree to take part, the study team will explain the study to you in more detail and you will have the opportunity to ask questions about it.
• No one from outside this practice will be given your contact details or have access to your medical records without your prior consent. If you do agree to take part in a study, you will be asked to sign a consent form – this will clearly state which parts of your notes (if any) may be looked at for the purposes of the research.
• You will not be asked to take part in a large number of studies. Most researchers are very specific about the criteria that people need to meet in order to enter their study. Usually this means that only a relatively small number of patients at the practice will be suitable for any one study.

Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in Research

Information about how patients and members of the public can be involved in helping to influence the shape of research

Increasingly patients, carers and members of the public are contributing their perspectives to the way clinical research is designed, commissioned, managed and supported. Active involvement in clinical research is very different from being a participant in a study.

Members of your practice patient group or others may be interested in how to get more involved.

European Patient Ambassador Programme (EPAP)

EPAP has been developed to help patients and carers across Europe understand how healthcare research and guidelines work, how to get involved and engage in advocacy and media activities at any level.