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Table 3 Suggestions for evaluating, communicating and maximising cancer trial impact

From: Evidencing the impact of cancer trials: insights from the 2014 UK Research Excellence Framework

 

Recommendations:

Target groupa

Evaluating the impact of cancer trials

• Educate trialists to anticipate the types of data required to evaluate impact and the collection methods to acquire this data. For example, surveys of current practice, accessing routine prescribing datasets

HEIs

Funders

• Use indicators of cancer trial impact (for example, those in supplementary material) to more routinely identify the wider impacts of future trials and to describe the impact of completed trials

Trialists

CTUs

HEIs

• Assess how cancer trial results are used by decision-makers. This will create a narrative of the pathways through which impact occurs (direct and indirect). This process may uncover unexpected and less clearly defined impacts

Trialists

CTUs

Researchers

HEIs

• Identify examples of researchers or patients actively contributing to maximising trial impact

Trialists

CTUs

• Evaluate the impact of negative trials. Demonstrating impacts that do not rely on positive trial results will encourage funders and researchers to adopt a broader approach to clinical trial output assessment

Trialists

CTUs

• Provide funding and support for robust cancer trial impact evaluation

Funders

HEIs

Communicating the impact of cancer trials

• Publicise cancer trial impact evaluations. Platforms for publicising evaluations could include patient-facing charity websites, CTU websites and clinical trial registries as well as more formal channels such as open access publications

Trialists

CTUs

HEIs

Funders

Maximising the impact of cancer trials

• Incorporate impact assessment into the trial design process. This will generate ideas for researchers and CTUs of how they can take a more active role in maximising impact

Trialists

CTUs

• Continue to provide opportunities for trialists to engage with stakeholders, including patients, in the planning stages of clinical trial design to specifically explore the types of wider trial impacts that are important to stakeholders

Funders

CTUs

  1. HEI higher-education institution, CTU clinical trials unit
  2. aThe target group will also depend on who is performing the impact evaluation. As highlighted in the manuscript, there may be researchers, distinct from clinical trialists, who adopt the role of evaluating impact