The impact of Clinical Trials Radiographers on set-up and recruitment to radiotherapy trials

TL;DR

This study shows that Clinical Trials Radiographers help increase the number of opened radiotherapy trials and patient recruitment.

Contribution

Quantifies the impact of Clinical Trials Radiographers on trial setup and recruitment in radiotherapy.

Findings

The number of trials opened annually increased with more Clinical Trials Radiographer hours.

More open studies improved access to radiotherapy trials for patients.

CTR hours correlated with increased patient recruitment to trials.

Abstract

•Evolving role of the Clinical Trials Radiographers.•Demonstrating the positive impact of Clinical Trials Radiographers.•Clinical Trials Radiographers increase the number of studies opened.•Increased Trial availability improves access to Radiotherapy trials for patients.

Evolving role of the Clinical Trials Radiographers.

Demonstrating the positive impact of Clinical Trials Radiographers.

Clinical Trials Radiographers increase the number of studies opened.

Increased Trial availability improves access to Radiotherapy trials for patients.

The primary role of the Clinical Trials Radiographer (CTR) within the UK workforce is the set-up and initiation of new trials, and recruitment of patients. There is very little published evidence to indicate the impact and value of the CTR. The aim of this study is to describe the evolving role of the CTR and to quantify impact on set-up, and recruitment to Radiotherapy (RT) clinical trials.

The number of trials approved and opened annually, number of open studies within the portfolio, and number of patients recruited have all increased alongside the number of CTR hours.

The data provides quantitative evidence to support the impact of the CTR role and its value in a RT department’s research infrastructure. This reinforces the need to consider the CTR position in long term funding and future workforce planning.

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