Improving recruitment in neonatal research trials – A practical guide

Clinical research brings potential benefits to patients in the form of improved treatments and therapies. Using evidence to challenge existing practice will make current methods of working safer and more effective. The NHS Constitution pledges to inform patients of relevant clinical trials in which they may participate and it appears that the overwhelming majority of the population would like to be so informed. However, there are many challenges to running successful programmes of clinical research. The role of the Clinical Research Nurse (CRN) is crucial to delivering successful clinical research studies, but very often these specialist nurses work in isolation making sharing of ideas difficult.In this paper we examine practical ways in which research staff can improve recruitment to studies and overcome some of the barriers to success.