Evaluation of translation and INterpretation serVIces implemented by clinical Trials units (CTUs) to increase recruitment of Ethnic minority groups in pragmatic randomised controlled trials (The INVITE study)

Funding

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Ref. NIHR 206906

What is the Research Question?

Are the translation and interpretation services used in clinical trials to improve the accessibility and inclusivity for patients from ethnic minority groups to participate in research being used appropriately? Are they acceptable to both the research teams and participants, and how much do they cost?

What is the problem?

Ethnic minority groups are under-served in health research even though they experience poor health outcomes and have greater healthcare needs (health inequalities) than the wider population. Often, they are excluded as they have language needs, which are often not considered in trials. While there is some guidance on how to include translation and interpretation in trials, we do not know how much they are being used, whether they work and what the patients’ experiences are.

What is the aim of the research?

We want to ensure that everyone from ethnic minority groups can take part in clinical trials. We want to achieve this by focusing on the translation and interpretation services used by the UK Clinical Trials Unit (CTUs).

How will this be achieved?

Our study will involve speaking to researchers who deliver trials and provide translation and interpretation. We will also talk to patients who may be given translated information and interpretation support. Doing this will help us understand the extent to which translation and interpretation are used, people’s experiences of using them and the costs of these services.

The study will include three parts.

First, we will conduct a survey with all the UK CTUs. Through the survey, we will find out what strategies the CTUs use to ensure that they are inclusive and gather additional information on using translation and interpretation services.

Next, we will conduct some interviews and focus groups separately with researchers and patients. This will help us find out which translation and interpretation services were used, if staff received training, any difficulties during the delivery and what helped. We will also collect information about how ethnicity data is collected within the trials.

Lastly, we will collect resource and cost data to identify how often services were used, how much they had costed and what costs were spent in practice.

Who is leading the Research?

Dr Kirsty Roberts, Senior Lecturer in Trials Methodology at the University of Bristol

Further Information

CI Email: kirsty.roberts@bristol.ac.uk

For more information or to get involved in this project, please contact bnssg.research@nhs.net.

The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care