PATIENTS in Teignbridge taking part in clinical studies have responded positively to being asked their experiences in a health survey.

The findings of the second annual Patient Experience Questionnaire have revealed that patients taking part in studies viewed their experience ‘very positively’.

The aim of the survey was to understand the experiences of patients involved in clinical research studies and identify where the experience, the way studies are conducted or access to research could be improved.

The findings will inform how the Clinical Research Network and partner healthcare organisations improve delivery of health research in the south west and work collaboratively to overcome barriers to participation.

Key findings of the 2016 questionnaire included that 94 per cent of responders thought research should be a ‘normal’ part of healthcare and 92 per cent felt valued at being asked to take part in the research.

The survey was carried out by the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network: South West Peninsula.

Professor Anthony Woolf, clinical director of the NIHR clinical research network: south west peninsula, said: ‘The resounding support for health research and positive feedback from patients who have participated in studies is heartening.

‘It was encouraging to see so many patients saying how much they felt valued as participants.

‘Staff supporting patients in research studies were highly regarded and patients said they would recommend taking part in health research studies to others.’

Among the benefits were that patients learned more about their own condition from taking part.

Professor Woolf added: ‘A finding we would like to explore further is the 92 per cent who said they would like to know the results of the studies.

‘This is something the Health Research Authority advocates to foster ongoing engagement with the research agenda by patients and the public.’

Patients who took part in the survey included those from the Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust, Devon Partnership Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust and patients from GP practices in the South Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Group.

Patients were asked about coming to their appointment, about the study and about their research experience.

Of the 1,121 survey respondents, 54 per cent were aged between 65 and 80 plus years; 30 per cent aged between 45 and 64; five per cent aged between 25 and 44 and two per cent aged between 17 and 24 with one per cent aged 16 years or under. 

The highest number of respondents were participants enrolled on cancer research studies, followed by cardiovascular and diabetes patients.