Participation of the public and patients in research
Patient and public invovlement helps to ensure that clinical research is more closely aligned with the needs, experiences and priorities of patients and the public. This ensures that research is relevant, accessible and patient-friendly. It gives patients and the broad public the opportunity to influence what is researched and how research is conducted.
PPI in the EMPASTONE trial
EMPASTONE implements this by involving a group of patients and memebers of the public right from the planning stage of the study. Throughout the study, progress is discussed regularly with this group, and they are asked for their opinions and suggestions for improvement. A total of nine independent individuals, who are not otherwise involved in the study, form this group. Care is taken to ensure that these individuals adequately represent patients and study participants in terms of language region, country of residence and other characteristics.
Members of this group also form part of the Study Steering Committee, the highest governing body of the EMPASTONE study. This ensures that the perspectives and concerns of patients and the public are incorporated into decision-making processes at the highest level.