Primary care research sees record enrolment numbers
Over the past 12 month, the number of volunteers taking part in medical research trials in England has doubled.
Medical research concerned with primary care services has seen participant numbers double in 2012, compared to the previous year.
The National Institute for Clinical Research published a report that revealed a total of 129,000 patients enrolled in clinical trials under the supervision of the Primary Care Research Network. In 2011, participant numbers only came to a little over 63,000.
Primary care provisions include all services carried out by GPs and dentists, community pharmacies and optometrists. Amongst these provisions are the prevention of disease, education and promotion of healthy lifestyles and the diagnosis and treatment of long-term illnesses such cancer or diabetes and the Primary Care Research Network ensures quality research is carried out across these areas.
The PCRN's director, Paul Wallace believes his organisation significantly contributed to the increase in patient enrolment numbers over the last year. The PCRN has expanded its reach to include close to 7,000 primary care practitioners in England alone, 5,500 of which are GP practices – a figure that equals 65 per cent of all general practices in the country.
All of the networks partners are involved in the recruitment of suitable volunteers for clinical trials. Given that 90 per cent of all contact between patients and the NHS takes place in primary care, staff working in these facilities have the insight knowledge and direct interaction needed to raise awareness of relevant clinical trials and refer the most suitable candidates.
Research into secondary care also falls within the Primary Care Research Network's quality assurance responsibility. Due to the unique nature of the network that brings together the majority of healthcare providers across England, it does not only support medical research into treatments for long-term conditions. It can also help with the recruitment of patients for hospital trials, thereby supporting vital secondary care studies.
Overall, the National Institute for Clinical Research recruited over half a million patients for medical research trials in 2012. The PCRN contributed to one third of this figure by facilitating the enrolment of 206,716 suitable candidates for both primary and secondary care research – an increase of 46 per cent compared to 2010/2011.
The chief executive of the NIHR Clinical Research Network, Dr Jonathan Sheffield feels the increase in participation is a sign of public for NHS research. The fact that this increase took place mainly in primary care also shows that significant medical advancements are not limited to teaching hospitals but are taking place across all areas of the NHS.
Medical research concerned with primary care services has seen participant numbers double in 2012, compared to the previous year.
The National Institute for Clinical Research published a report that revealed a total of 129,000 patients enrolled in clinical trials under the supervision of the Primary Care Research Network. In 2011, participant numbers only came to a little over 63,000.
Primary care provisions include all services carried out by GPs and dentists, community pharmacies and optometrists. Amongst these provisions are the prevention of disease, education and promotion of healthy lifestyles and the diagnosis and treatment of long-term illnesses such cancer or diabetes and the Primary Care Research Network ensures quality research is carried out across these areas.
The PCRN's director, Paul Wallace believes his organisation significantly contributed to the increase in patient enrolment numbers over the last year. The PCRN has expanded its reach to include close to 7,000 primary care practitioners in England alone, 5,500 of which are GP practices – a figure that equals 65 per cent of all general practices in the country.
All of the networks partners are involved in the recruitment of suitable volunteers for clinical trials. Given that 90 per cent of all contact between patients and the NHS takes place in primary care, staff working in these facilities have the insight knowledge and direct interaction needed to raise awareness of relevant clinical trials and refer the most suitable candidates.
Research into secondary care also falls within the Primary Care Research Network's quality assurance responsibility. Due to the unique nature of the network that brings together the majority of healthcare providers across England, it does not only support medical research into treatments for long-term conditions. It can also help with the recruitment of patients for hospital trials, thereby supporting vital secondary care studies.
Overall, the National Institute for Clinical Research recruited over half a million patients for medical research trials in 2012. The PCRN contributed to one third of this figure by facilitating the enrolment of 206,716 suitable candidates for both primary and secondary care research – an increase of 46 per cent compared to 2010/2011.
The chief executive of the NIHR Clinical Research Network, Dr Jonathan Sheffield feels the increase in participation is a sign of public for NHS research. The fact that this increase took place mainly in primary care also shows that significant medical advancements are not limited to teaching hospitals but are taking place across all areas of the NHS.
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