Professor Miles Witham, Dr Ellen Tullo and Dr Richard Dodds, along with a multi-professional faculty, delivered the two-day (12 and 13 Oct 2021), online course.
The aim of 'Getting Started in Clinical Research with Older People' was to encourage healthcare professionals who work with older people to consider becoming involved in clinical research. The programme provided guidance on how to begin this research journey.
The popular event covered an overview of the key research processes. It featured information on; study conception, funding, conduct, analysis, and dissemination of the results. The session also focused on involving the public in clinical research and tailoring the delivery of research findings for a lay audience.
Professor Witham comments:
Getting more healthcare professionals involved in research is essential if we are to deliver the evidence needed for high-quality healthcare for older people. This course is a great starting point for anyone without research experience, who would like a career in this area. It will also help professionals caring for older people, by to supporting research studies in their area of clinical practice.
Attendees came from all around the UK and from a range of roles, including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, research managers and statisticians.
Those delivering the event also came from a range of academic and healthcare disciplines. The second day of the event was delivered by Dr Ellen Tullo and Linda Tinkler and focused on academic career pathways, including advice on the routes into research for all disciplines.
Dr Tullo adds:
We believe that effective research with older people must mirror the multidisciplinary approach taken in clinical practice. This will help to incorporate the specific skill sets of different healthcare professions who are familiar with the needs of older people, and have the experience to support older patients who wish to engage in research.
Our research is designed to include a range of healthcare professions. Part of our programme will consider different routes into research, including less traditional pathways and alternative sources of funding.
Course feedback has been very positive so far. Sister Jo Bainbridge attended the course and commented:
As a health professional working closely with academic colleagues undertaking research, I have developed an interest in how it can guide and influence practice. I have also seen the positive impact it can have on the individuals taking part in research.
My role has recently expanded to include the Day Hospital for older people's medicine as well as Falls and Syncope, and as such I am keen to undertake some research in improving services for older people, but was unsure where to start. The multidisciplinary approach to the course is the perfect start. I thoroughly enjoyed the structure and content of the course, and I now feel very inspired and confident to take the first steps into research.
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