Spotlight on Paediatric Research Month (Oct '18): Blog 1 - Comparing paediatric tweetchats from Tweetfest 2017 and 2018; paediatric recruitment

I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to host two Twitterfest chats for the #WhyWeDoResearch community with my colleague’s @trifidNebula73 and @mazp74 highlighting paediatric research.
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We held the first twitter chat in 2017 and the second one in 2018 during the #WhyWeDoResearch Twitterfest week. We consciously hosted the chats at the same time one year apart midweek at 12pm.
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Title of the tweetchat: ​Increasing recruitment to paediatric research.

The questions used were...

As research nurses we wanted to know if there would be differences in the answers one year apart. In reality the answers were very similar and to our surprise the enthusiasm and passion for paediatric research was strong both years. As one of the guests put it ‘We need to excite people about research!’

Patients, public and staff joined the chat so we had a variety of perspectives to draw from. It truly was a fun packed hour, so many ideas and new ways of working, networking and sharing experiences and building on the success of the #WhyWeDoResearch community.
I would like to share a few findings with you from the Twitterfest.

Answers for question one focused very much on the relationship building between the research team and the clinical area where the paediatrics are to be recruited from.

Example: What do you think research teams could do to increase recruitment to paediatric research?

It was generally agreed that the research team is not isolated when it comes to research and recruitment of paediatric patients, everybody who cares for children are key to the recruitment process. One young person explained to us we needed to be out and about in schools promoting research. Both years the voice of the paediatric patient was discussed and how patient’s stories are valuable. This involves young people talking to young people about research.
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Question two concentrated on training for paediatric research teams and both years the paediatric communication and informed consent course was highlighted as a very valuable resource. Interestingly, there was much discussion surrounding the importance for research nurses to support and share knowledge with the next generation of research nurses. Student nurses were discussed at length and ideas around shadowing the research teams and providing the student nurses with research workbooks was also shared as good practice.
 
Example:

Good practice between teams and good relationships between different specialities was the focus for question three. Collaboration to help recruit patients to studies was needed. Recruitment to research cannot be achieved without the involvement of the service users and the multi-disciplinary team. This theme was apparent throughout our twitter chat. This question definitely showed that research is everybody’s business and research cannot be a standalone speciality.

Question four looked at what could improve across collaboration between teams to improve recruitment to paediatric research. Engagement for both patients and staff was highlighted and feedback throughout the study not just at the end was suggested.

​Example:

Discussing creativity in paediatric research was the liveliest part of the chats for both years and it was a lovely end to the chats too. Question five gave everybody ideas to take away with them to help promote paediatric research. What I can say is that all who participated in the chat both years are very creative. We had ideas such as podcasts, art competitions, posters, banners, all ways of attracting paediatrics to research.
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Example:

What was apparent two years running was that the use of social media is a strong factor in highlighting paediatric research. Although discussions regarding fear and apprehension had stopped a lot of people accessing social media it was felt that to engage with young people social media was the way forward.

Lastly question six, any other important questions? We had so many ideas for a further twitter chats and Claire Whitehouse @ClaireW_UK from the #WhyWeDoResearch community asked us to consider having a spotlight month on paediatric research which we have jumped at the opportunity to highlight research in this area.

All three of us are very honoured to host another twitter chat during this month’s spotlight which will take place on Wednesday 17th October, 8pm (BST) / 3pm (EST) / 9pm (Madrid).

It’s amazing how social media can connect enthusiastic people with a passion for paediatric research.
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We are looking forward to hosting the tweetchat, hope you can join us too.