Clinical Research MClinRes E-learning Standard Pathway

Deborah Sutton, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust

There are two threads that I hope to pursue as part of my ongoing research career.

Firstly, I am really focused on continuing my academic studies to hopefully progress to undertake a doctoral research qualification. Although this would be challenging, I believe I can take steps to achieve this and my prior knowledge, along with the skills I gain on the Masters course, will set me up well for success.

In terms of my proposed research idea, I am committed to work around improving the safety of obtaining medication histories for research participants. Exactly how this will look will depend on the outcomes from this masters study but it could provide evidence that enables the development of new pharmacy technician roles in order to diversify and strengthen pharmacy involvement in research. This work could also potentially reduce time and cost burden on research nurses which is vital as staffing levels are often minimal, and funding can be tight. Alternatively, this could lead to the development of standardised working tools and/or compulsory research nurse induction training sessions delivered by pharmacy technicians. A research specific medication history training package could be developed that would require further evaluation of the implementation and impact.

From a wider perspective my area of interest lies within the development of novel research models and new approaches to fully investigate how pharmacy professionals, in varying capacities i.e. acute specialist pharmacists, community medicines support teams, community pharmacies and secondary and primary care pharmacy teams, can be firmly embedded into the design and delivery of research for the benefit of patients, public and the wider health service.

I am keen to design, develop and undertake research projects both individually and in collaboration with others in the future.

Secondly, I have ambitions to build an appetite for pharmacy-developed research and showcase what is possible to achieve, making it accessible to both pharmacists and technicians alike. I hope to pave the way as a successful research leader to provide guidance, support and eventually supervision to help navigate the research landscape. I also intend to engage senior management and pharmacy education leads to embed a solid research foundation across the entire department.

I have already established a Pharmacy Research Group within the Trust and having completed several of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Research modules I am promoting these valuable resources across the department and also aiming to facilitate the delivery of the new CPPE ‘Getting started with research’ session in the near future. I am working to improve staff exposure to research and looking to develop a more formalised training pathway which has already included supporting a number of pharmacists to undertake the Associate Principal Investigator (API) Scheme.

My experience in both clinical trials and research development/sponsorship roles have exposed me to many different types of research and methods of delivery. I have seen first-hand what works in practice and what improvements could be made and have gained opportunities to network and collaborate both locally and regionally with a vast number of stakeholders. Although I have not taken a traditional degree route, due to the training pathway for pharmacy technicians, I believe my prior experience and commitment to research puts me in good stead to take this next step. I feel that by completing a Clinical Research Masters qualification I will be in a position to plug gaps in my knowledge around the more academic aspects of protocol development and improve my understanding in areas such as research methodology, analysis and writing for publications. This in turn will strengthen my ability to provide quality support in an advisory capacity in the bid to develop home grown pharmacy research within the Trust alongside progressing my own research career.