There are many different ways of carrying out research and the method used depends on what kind of information the researchers want to find out. The three most common types of research at WAHT are:
Clinical trials which test new types of medical treatment to see how well they work.
Observational studies where researchers gather information about how well patients are responding to their existing treatment.
Questionnaire studies where your views about your health or medical treatment are collected and analysed.
Each kind of study involves a different level of patient involvement. If you have been asked to take part in a questionnaire study you may simply want to know that the information you share with the researcher will be kept confidential. However, if you have been asked to take part in a clinical trial you may want to ask questions about how safe the new treatment is and what risks there could be to your health.