Consumer engagement
Consumer engagement for research undertaken in the Centre of Cardiovascular Research and Education in Therapeutics (CCRET).
Background and purpose
The Centre of Cardiovascular Research and Education in Therapeutics is a highly collaborative team researching cardiovascular disease and related diseases. CCRET undertakes a broad range of research such as clinical trials, examining pathways of care for patients, and efficiencies of health care services. CCRET houses major cardiac clinical registries – that is databases that systematically collect health-related information and provide a wealth of data to answer many research and clinical questions. CCRET research program also extends to Real-World Evidence in Pharmacoepidemiology, investigating the complex relationship between cardiovascular medications and long-term clinical outcomes by studying utilisation, adherence and persistence patterns, as well as safety, and effectiveness of medications in managing CV conditions.
The researchers and staff of the CCRET acknowledge that consumers are critical to the design and conduct of our research and have a right to play an active and informed role. We are keen for consumers to provide genuine and meaningful input at all stages of our research. Therefore, we have established a group of consumers, from which we can draw consumer expertise to advise on general research directions, priorities, and conduct from a consumer perspective.
Consumer engagement
The primary functions of consumers are to:
- Provide directions about the needs and priorities of consumers;
- Work with steering and/or advisory committees to provide consumer insight and feedback on research activities, including planning, conducting, disseminating, and implementing research findings. Specific tasks may include reviewing research proposals (i.e. research objectives and methods, reviewing research and ethics documents, developing lay-language summaries of progress reports and research findings for wider public and in some instances-co-designing consumer events/sessions;
- Identify, promote, and implement effective community involvement strategies.
Consumers are not asked for, or do not necessarily have the expertise to, comment on the scientific or medical merits of the project. The main role of consumers is to advise researchers and investigators on issues that may affect consumers (patients and/or clinicians).
Members of our CCRET consumer group will include those from urban and rural areas, where possible consumers will be representative of the broader community. Consumers will include, but are not limited to:
- people living with cardiovascular disease, including strokes;
- people at high risk of cardiovascular disease;
- carers for those living with cardiovascular disease and
- healthcare professionals including nurses, allied health practitioners, and general practitioners.