Participant in Research Experience Survey (PRES)

The Participant in Research Experience Survey consists of a number of questions aimed at assessing a participant's experience of taking part in health research in the region, using a scale which ranges from strongly agree to strongly disagree.

What is the PRES?

Find out why the PRES is so important, and how it can help your participants shape research in the future in the short film (2 mins long).

Participant in Research Experience Survey 2023/2024

The 2022/23 CRN East of England Participant in Research Experience Survey (PRES) report is available to read. 

You can now also view the national CRN PRES Report for the same period.

Delivering the survey during 2023/24

Who should I give the PRES to and how often?

PRES should be embedded into the participant’s research journey on all NIHR portfolio studies, where appropriate. For help with this contact donna.coe@nihr.ac.uk.

How often can I give it out? 

PRES for HEAL-COVID, PRINCIPLE, TIPAL and PANORAMIC studies

A number of studies are collecting the PRES Nationally, therefore please do not give the PRES out locally for participants on the HEAL-COVID, Principle, TIPAL and Panoramic studies.

Paper questionnaires for 2023/24

Before giving the survey to participants, please ensure you have completed the correct study name, study number (CPMS or IRAS) and the site code. 

If you don't know your site code, please use your Trust code.


There are 4 national standard versions of PRES available for use:


There will be 2 additional adapted versions of PRE available:

You can order the following printed surveys from ann.rampling@nihr.ac.uk:

Online surveys for 2023/24

You can either copy and paste these links into an email or offer the online survey on a tablet during the clinic. 

You will need to provide participants with the correct study name, study number (CPMS or IRAS) and the site code before giving the survey to participants. If you don't know your site code, please use your Trust code.

We have produced a number of study specific online surveys (so the participants don't have to complete the study name/number etc) - please contact donna.coe@nihr.ac.uk if you would like one produced for your study.


Study specific surveys

You can request for a study specific online PRES by emailing the PPI team: crneastofengland.ppie@nihr.ac.uk 


The benefit of a study specific PRES is that your participant's do not have to enter the study name, number and site code, making it easier for them and more likely that they will complete it.


1. find out if there is an study specific PRES for your study, by accessing the spreadsheets here:


2. If there is one set up for your study, but your organiation isn't listed in column D, you can email the PPI Team and ask for your trust to be added.


3. If there isn't one set up for your study, email the PPI team to request one, providing the survey version required, study name, study number and site code or Trust code/name.


4. To use an existing study specific survey, you can either copy the online survey link (column E) into an email or browser. Or, you can copy the QR code f(column G) and embed it into your own email, letter or poster. Or you can download and print the flyer (column F) and either hand it out or post it to participants. The flyer contains both the URL address and the QR code for that study specific survey.


Access your PRES responses through the dashboards

Please use the PRES dashboard to access your PRES responses live. You can filter the data on the PRES dashboard by year, Trust or site and study name/number.

Please remember to use the "reset" button between each search/filter.

To look at the free text responses, we would recommend that you filter by study.

Once you are using the dashboard for live feedback from your participants, you may start to have ideas about how to improve participant experience in response to that feedback.

PRES Working Group

The CRN PPIE team runs a PRES Working Group, which is a small group made up of Public Research Champions, representatives from different partner organisations and the CRN. The meeting takes place bi-monthly and oversees the development and delivery of the PRES across the East of England region. PRES Leads from each partner organisation are invited to attend this meeting.

Each Trust has identified a PRES Lead - we recommend that you find out who that is in your trust.

For more information about the working group please contact ann.rampling@nihr.ac.uk.

Recruitment Enhancement Tools for Researchers and Research Teams

The CRN has created two Recruitment Enhancement Tools based on the feedback from research participants.  The aims of the documents are to give the researchers and research delivery teams a better understanding of the participant perspective. 

eLearning on delivering the PRES

This training package on NIHR Learn is designed to help you understand how you can use the PRES in your studies and why it is important.


This learning package has been introduced as part of research staff’s core training by a number of Trusts.


By the end of this training package, you will be able to:

Need help?

If you require further information or assistance to deliver the PRES please contact donna.coe@nihr.ac.uk or ann.rampling@nihr.ac.uk and we will do our best to help you. 

Delivering research to make patients, the NHS and social care, better