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 |