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Briefing: patient participation in treatment and research

Patient involvement in health care

As patients play an increasing role in the decision-making process of cancer care, they should be encouraged to work as part of an informed partnership with their clinicians.

It is important that the public understand not only the role that they can take in their own healthcare but also how to assess the risks and benefits of participating in treatment and research.

Opinions about treatment options from individual patients, although important, must not replace policies based on research evidence nor must they prejudge the results of ongoing research. While it is important that patients' views are foremost in the delivery of NHS services, especially with respect to ready access to diagnosis and the best available treatment, decisions concerning delivery of care must always be based on evidence from high quality research.

Getting involved

The potential now exists to ensure that all patients in the UK who are eligible to enter clinical trials have the opportunity to do so. Patients should be actively encouraged to become involved in research. This is especially important for patients from groups currently under-represented in clinical trials, such as those from ethnic minority communities.

To learn more about becoming involved in clinical trials visit our CancerHelp website.

Cancer Research UK is calling on the Government to ensure that all healthcare professionals understand the importance of clinical research and emphasise to their patients the value of opportunities to be involved in research as a part of their treatment.

All patients should have access to literature and web-based information on being involved in research, as well as access to information on clinical trials currently available in the area of each patient's disease. Healthcare practitioners need to work in partnership with medical research organisations and patient groups to promote a greater public understanding of how research findings can be translated into benefits for patients.