ACTING AS A PATIENT IDENTIFICATION CENTRE (PIC)

A practice who identifies and invites eligible patients to participate in a research study where all the procedures are carried out by the research team; usually a hospital trust.

PIC activity is often limited to:

• • Database search and screening of search list (pre-built search files provided)

  • Send SMS invites or mail out of an invitation letter using DOCMAIL.

  • In some cases the study team will ask you to invite patients opportunistically during routine consultations

The practice retains responsibility for patient healthcare outside the research study. Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training is not usually required for this level of involvement.

DELIVERING SITE BASED ACTIVITY AT THE PRACTICE

Research sites are responsible for delivery of research protocol procedures:

• • Screening patients for eligibility (normally face to face)

  • Receiving informed consent

  • Conducting trial intervention(s) & / or conducting assessments with participants 

  • Passing research data to the trial management team

  • Patient follow-ups

A designated clinician would normally be required to act as a Principle Investigator/GP Lead and is responsible for the day-to-day running of a study at the practice. The GP Lead must have a valid GCP training certificate as a minimum. Practices are responsible for patient care both inside and outside the research study. 

Activity is conducted in practice by appropriately skilled health care professionals as noted on a delegation log, some of which may be required to have completed GCP training and/or study training. The term 'health care professionals' doesn't just refer to GPs, research studies can involve nurses, HCAs, practice managers, pharmacists, paramedics depending the focus of the study. 

GP trainees:  Allocating site based studies to trainee GPs reduces the burden on practice GPs and provides trainees with research experience early on in their careers. Studies are often a good source of Quality Improvement Projects (QIPs) and audit ideas.

Some site-based studies may qualify for additional support from the Regional Research Delivery Network Nurse Team and/or delivered by clinical trials unit nurses.

• For academic studies, both of the above study types are eligible for additional funding through our Research Site Initiative scheme.

• To find out more on the current studies available please visit our studies page.