Resources
Below, you will find a selection of tools and resources that can help you deliver research, as well as providing examples of good practice.
The NIHR-INCLUDE Guidance, July 2020 PDF is available to download.
To cite this report: National Institute for Health Research (2020) Improving inclusion of under-served groups in clinical research: Guidance from the NIHR-INCLUDE project. UK: National Institute for Health Research.
Available at: www.nihr.ac.uk/documents/improving-inclusion-of-under-served-groups-in-clinical-research-guidance-from-include-project/25435 (date link accessed)
The NIHR-INCLUDE Guidance (COVID-19 specific) 2020 PDF is available to download.
To cite this report: National Institute for Health Research (2020) Ensuring that COVID-19 Research is Inclusive: Guidance from the NIHR CRN NIHR-INCLUDE project. UK: National Institute for Health Research.
Available at: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/documents/ensuring-that-covid-19-research-is-inclusive-guidance-from-the-nihr-crn-include-project/32647 (date link accessed)
Linked to the NIHR-INCLUDE project, Trial Forge is working with other networks (particularly the Trial Methodology Research Partnership and Ireland's Trial Methodology Research Network), organisations and researchers to improve diversity in trials. A series of frameworks have been developed to help trial teams think about how their trial might make it easier, or more difficult, for some people to take part in a trial. These frameworks aim to help trial teams think carefully about which groups should be included in their trial for its results to be widely applicable, and what challenges there may be to making this possible.
The links below will take you to the Trial Forge website and the specific framework's webpage where you can find more detail, resources and examples:
NIHR-INCLUDE FREE ONLINE Course
The INCLUDE team have worked with colleagues in NIHR Workforce, Learning and Organisational Development, to develop an online course that explores:
why it is important to include under-served groups in research;
what an under-served group is;
examples of under-served groups; examples of barriers to inclusion;
see INCLUDE in practice, in relation to COVID-19 and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE).
By completing this course, you will better understand how to improve inclusion using a roadmap of suggested intervention points, and will explore how funders, researchers and delivery teams can improve inclusivity of study design and delivery by following a framework and guidance questions. An NIHR certificate will be awarded upon completion.
How to access the course
The INCLUDE Project's online course can be accessed, for free, via the NIHR Learn or Open Learn platforms.
Access to NIHR Learn is available to NHS, UK universities, and other publicly funded organisations conducting and supporting clinical research. Simply register on the NIHR Learn platform using your eligible NIHR, NHS or UK university email address (further information on NIHR Learn here).
If you do not have an eligible email domain, you can access the course using the Open Learn platform. Visit openlearn.nihr.ac.uk to sign up using your personal email address.
NHS ENGLAND - Increasing diversity in research participation: a good practice guide for engaging with underrepresentated groups
NHS England has created a document that provides practical insights for researchers on how to engage more diverse participants in health research.
The Increasing Diversity in Research Participation: a good practice guide for engaging with underrepresented groups PDF is available to download.
This publication may have some elements that are not fully accessible to everyone. If you need this information in an alternative format please contact england.research@nhs.net.
Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/aac/publication/increasing-diversity-in-research-participation/
Journal articles
From BMJ Open: "Ensuring that COVID-19 research is inclusive: guidance from the NIHR-INCLUDE project" (https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/11/e043634) A PDF can be downloaded here.
From Trials: "Developing a roadmap to improve trial delivery for under-served groups: results from a multi-stakeholder process" (https://trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-020-04613-7) A PDF can be downloaded here.
From Age and Ageing: "Including older people in health and social care research: best practice recommendations based on the INCLUDE framework" (https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/52/6/afad082/7187125) A PDF can be downloaded here.
Resource Tracker
We have collated a selection of different web links, resources, papers, guides and more to provide some examples of good practice, innovative research and ways of undertaking more inclusive health research.
These can be found in this Resource Tracker. Please note the links in the Resource Tracker take you to external sites.
EVENT PREsentations
Stakeholder Dissemination Event, 7th October 2021
The final project dissemination online event was attended by 270 people, across various stakeholder groups, including patient & public representatives, academics, researchers, funders, health care professionals, regulators, pharma and more. The key focus was to share findings of the INCLUDE project to date, celebrate its successes and outline the future, as it's incorporated into the NIHR Under-served Communities Programme.
An important part was the call to action - emphasising that including under-served communities was everyone’s responsibility and we all had a role to play to ensure inclusive research becomes business as usual.
The Event Programme is linked here
Links to the PDF Presentations:
Celebrating INCLUDE-Learning and Impact: Prof Lynn Rochester
Implementing INCLUDE Guidance Overview: Prof Miles Witham, Prof Shaun Treweek, Dr Heidi Gardner
Training the next generation - NIHR Learn and GCP Training: John Castledine
Recorded Zoom Sessions:
