Swanage Medical Practice is registered as a "Primary Care Research Practice" with Dr Claire Hombersley taking the lead for the Practice. Scroll down to find out more.
What is research?
Research is the way new knowledge is found. Clinical research (also called 'clinical trials' or 'studies') is a type of research that is designed to test new treatments or ways of delivering care. Clinical research can involve patients and/or healthy people.
What is Primary Care research?
When research takes place in a community setting, such as a GP surgery, dental Practice or pharmacy it can be called 'Primary Care Research'. Primary Care Research is concerned with the prevention of disease, new and innovative medical technologies such as a new drug, health promotion, screening and early diagnosis, as well as the management of long term conditions, such as arthritis and heart disease.
Why take part in research studies?
It has previously been found that people who take part in research studies can benefit from the experience. It can be rewarding and people often enjoy taking part. You might learn some more about the condition being studied.
Taking part in research can also help other people, such as others with the same problem as you, or those who might develop it in the future. Some research tries to find new ways of preventing health problems.
You can also sometimes take part in research as a healthy volunteer. This means that you don't have any problems yourself, but that you volunteer to try out new treatments or ways of delivering care.
How will this affect me?
If you are eligible to take part in a research we are running you will be told about it by your doctor. You will also get some written information about the study. You may hear about it face to face or get a letter in the post from the Practice.
It is up to you if you want to take part. Your care and how you are treated by staff will not be affected if you decide that taking part is not for you. You will have time to think about whether or not you want to take part.
Being in a study can be a good experience. All studies have been reviewed by a group of experts that have Practice in looking at research.