What are clinical trials?
Clinical trials are research studies that test something for its effect on human health outcomes.
People volunteer to take part in clinical trials to test medical interventions including drugs, cells and other biological products, surgical procedures, diagnostics, radiological procedures, medical devices, behavioural treatments and preventive care1.
Clinical trials are carefully designed, reviewed and completed, and need to be approved (by an ethics committee) before they can start. People of all ages can take part in clinical trials, including children1.
Participation is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time.
1. Source: World Health Organisation
1. Source: World Health Organisation
Who is ConViCTioN?
ConViCTioN is a group of NSW health consumers that were brought together in late 2021 for a project funded by the NSW Government's Office of Health and Medical Research. The aim of the project was to develop consumer co-designed resources to help increase awareness and participation in clinical trials in NSW.
Membership of the group is diverse in health and cultural backgrounds, age, location across NSW and in clinical trials experience.
The team supporting ConViCTION includes members of Sydney Health Partners, Health Consumers NSW, Northern NSW LHD and AccessCR.
This website showcases the resources developed by ConViCTioN which we encourage anyone to freely share and use.
Do you want to be a part of ConViCTioN?
ConViCTioN are currently seeking expressions of interest for six new members to join to help deliver a few new projects by Jun 2024.
Please click each link to view the invitation video, the information sheet about the call for expressions of interest, and what committing to ConViCTioN involves (ie the terms of reference).
If you would like to submit an expression of interest to join, please complete the online form. If you need help with the form, or have questions, please contact us.
Expressions of Interest close on the 25th October 2023.
ConViCTioN Resources
Consumer Voices on Finding Clinical Trials
Webinar - 27 May 2022
ConViCTioN identified that finding trials is often challenging, and learning from others that have participated in clinical trials can be valuable. And so, on the 27th May 2022, ConViCTion hosted a webinar to try to demystify how to find trials and what it can be like taking part in one.
Poster/Infographic
In reviewing how clinical trial are promoted to the public, ConViCTion felt there was nothing that really spoke to the personal benefits of trial participation. This poster has been created as a resource for any hospital, GP clinic or health clinic to print to encourage people to find out more about clinical trials.
A Checklist
Need a list of questions to ask a research team about a clinical trial you are considering?
The ConViCTioN team created a checklist of questions to help.
Consumer Voices chatting about the value and hope trial participants and their carers get from clinical trials
In August 2022, ConViCTioN drew a diverse group of people together to yarn about the benefits and challenges of clinical trials.
This short video (approximately 7mins) captures the essence of why clinical trials matter and why people participate in them, from the consumer perspective.
If you are interested in learning more about how you can take part in or get involved with clinical trials, please check out the 'Finding Trials' webinar resources, reach out to the ConViCTion contact listed below, or contact any of the team partners supporting ConViCTioN listed above via their websites.
Sharing our Work
Alongside the different webinars and events ConViCTioN members have been presenting at, the ConViCTioN group were selected to present an e-Poster at the NHMRC Research Translation Long Weekend 17-22 Nov 2022.
The title of the poster is: "Embracing diversity in engaging the community in clinical trials with ConViCTioN", and outlines how ConViCTioN engaged with diverse communities for their perspectives on clinical trials.
Download a copy of the poster in PDF format.