Overcoming obstacles to research collaboration a research nurse

Overcoming obstacles to research collaboration: a research nurse perspective. Sally 1 1 Galbraith , Julie 1 Varghese , Peter 1, 2 Sly , Dorottya 1 Czovek Children’s Lung, Environment and Asthma Research, CHRC, UQ, Brisbane, Australia. 2 Children’s Health Queensland ( Lady Cilento Children's Hospital) Paediatric health professionals and research staff can appear at times to have competing priorities; however, all have a shared commitment and vision to improve the healthcare and outcomes of children. Therefore, effective collaboration is essential to achieve these common goals. The opening of the new Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital and the adjoining Child Health Research Centre provides an exceptional opportunity to conduct world-class research in various fields of paediatric medicine. Positive facilitators include: • The existence of strong collaborative ties prior to the transfer to the new site, • Recently established inter-professional relationships, • Research aims and objectives that are closely aligned to health priorities, • Clinical Staff are keen to know about studies and to assist where practicable, • Clinical Staff have been supportive and are helpful during recruitment and study visits in clinical areas. Patients and Parents Differing environmental challenges Clinical Staff Researchers • • May need to be quick and efficient to get samples in operating theatre environment. • Waiting around in Outpatients environments while child sees multiple people, and try to recruit at optimal time. • Negotiation with staff in ED regarding when medications due and when to complete study procedures. • Parents and children may be tired if they have been in ED for 8 hours but not if only visiting for a clinic. • Not always aware of the studies in their speciality areas. • Time is often a precious resource in a busy clinic, ED department or operating theatre – trying to remember to recruit for a study while under pressure can be challenging. • Different studies and teams may be recruiting from the same cohort of children. • Don’t always get updates about ongoing studies or when studies finish. • • • Can be approached for recruitment multiple times on repeat visits about the same or other studies. Can be approached for recruitment for studies when already participating in another. May be interested in research but do not know where / who to ask Parents and children maybe disappointed if child proves ineligible for a study - may be eligible for a different study, but possibly by a different research team Parents may be unavailable to approach due to other children / family present but may be willing another time. • • • May not be directly employed with the hospital – relying on clinicians and clinical staff to be able to recruit and engage participants in their studies. Research teams may work in some isolation, and be unaware of additional projects in progress even within the same speciality. Cognizance of other studies, and their impact on clinical areas, is essential to ensure researchers do not overwhelm clinical staff or children and their families in requests for support. If not directly employed with the hospital – uncertainty about the communication process once governance has been agreed with department staff “All Professionals have a responsibility to ensure they are aware of current research, can intelligently interpret it and incorporate sound research into practice” ( Greig et al 2013) Do you have any ideas? E. g…. • Stickers for parents or on clinic list ( maybe to indicate if they are happy to be approached today for a study) ? This will reply on someone asking this though • Generic leaflet for parents and children by CCHR partners about research in general and how and why we may approach them • How CCHR partners can share studies so that if someone approaches a child who is not eligible for their study, they may be able to refer to another team. • How best to ensure clinical staff of all levels know the studies that are currently running or being recruited for in their specialty areas. • Speciality specific network meeting/ forums ( CHQ / QUT /UQ) at LCCH and CCHR to discuss key issues ands resolutions to challenges. • CCHR / LCCH Research Nurses across partners have already had a first joint meeting. Further reading : Drotar, D (Ed) (1999), Handbook of Research in Pediatric and Clinical Child Psychology: Practical Strategies and Methods, Springer Science+Business Media, USA. ; Greig, A. , Taylor, J. , Mackay, T. ( 3 rd edition – 2013) Doing research with Children – A Practical Guide; SAGE publishing, London