Monday 20 May 2013

Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust raising awareness of research

Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust raising awareness of research

We recently held a Health Research Awareness Week as part of our ongoing commitment to clinical research. The week was launched on Monday 20 May to coincide with International Clinical Trials Day.

Research is a vital tool for the NHS. As well as testing new medicines and treatments, research can be used to test ways to help people change their behaviour or lifestyle such as educational programmes or psychological therapy.

The research projects that we are involved in vary from tissue viability to prisons research, telehealth, weight management, stroke and mental health to name a few. Throughout the week teams visited Wetherby Health Centre, Meanwood Health Centre and Kirkstall Medical Centre to promote research to both patients and staff.

Our awareness week and the national campaign ‘it’s Ok to ask’ aims to address the issue that many patients are unaware that they can help improve the NHS by being involved in clinical research.

In a recent consumer poll, only 21% of patients and the public said that they would feel confident asking their doctor about research opportunities. In many cases doctors will approach patients about taking part research, but the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) also wants to give patients and carers the confidence to ask health care professionals about local research they may be eligible for.

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