Research and Innovation
Spring 2017
Jan’s story … Can you tell me a bit about yourself? Jan: I live in Hemel Hempstead & was it’s first lady bus driver but I’m retired now. I’ve got a white German Shepherd dog called Ice, he’s my diabetic dog. He supports my diabetes at night & wakes me up when I’m having a hypo (low blood sugar). What type of study are you taking part in? Jan: It’s an eye study called Cleopatra looking at diabetic retinopathy. How did you find out about the trial? Jan: I read it on the wall, on a poster and then Mr Smith told me about it. He said I’d be a good candidate. Why did you decide to take part? Jan: I thought I can do that so why not. Got to help out if I can. I’ve had a ball, two years have gone by so quickly and I’ve told Mr Smith and Judith that if there’s any more studies to do I’ll be there.
Jan with Judith Abrams, Ophthalmology Research Nurse
What do you have to do? Jan: Wear a blindfold! It’s like a mask & you have to drop a plastic thing in it which takes some getting used to. Mine was non-light but some had lights, green lights. I had to wear it every night for two years but I still wear it because the car headlights shine in to my bedroom & it keeps the lights out of my eyes, but I’ve taken the plastic thing out now.
What are the benefits of taking part to you? Jan: I’ve had my eyes so well looked after by the staff at Stoke Mandeville. It’s been second to none and I’ve had extra research appointments where I’ve been seen really quickly. I have to have laser treatment on little bleeds behind the eye and they can do that straight away here as part of my appointment but if I went to Hemel I’d have to have a second appointment and come to Stoke for the treatment anyway.
What would you say to anyone thinking about taking part in research? Jan: Do it, don’t think about it. If you don’t benefit others will. The treatment and staff in this hospital have been brilliant. It’s not scary, it’s been good fun and I’ve been so well looked after by Judith and all the staff here. Fantastic!
Patients More Likely to Survive in Research Active Hospitals A study supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) reported in October 2016 that bowel cancer patients are more likely to survive in research-active hospitals. Even patients not involved in the trials themselves benefit from being in hospitals where a large amount of clinical research is taking place. Bucks Healthcare didn’t take part in this particular study but the researchers concluded that, “by getting involved in research trials, hospitals may “up their game” and provide better care for all the patients they treat even in the short term long before the results of those trials are known.” http://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2016/10/14/gutjnl-2015-311308.full
What’s a blinded clinical trial? There is a risk in research that the investigators’ conclusions might be influenced by their opinions. To eliminate that risk some trials are designed so that the investigators and/or patients don’t know which treatment is allocated to each recruit. This makes the patients and investigators “blinded” and prevents assumptions being made about the benefits or sideeffects. Sometimes patients and investigators are unblinded at the end of the trial. For further information about research opportunities at Bucks Healthcare NHS Trust please contact the Research and Innovation Department at Stoke Mandeville hospital on 01296 316065 or see the website at www.buckshealthcare.nhs.uk/research