What issue does this study address, and how could the results help patients?
It is difficult to perform good quality research in surgery. A new type of study called Decision Architecture Randomisation Trial (or DART for short) looks promising, but its role in surgery is unclear.
The research team’s aim is to explore if DARTs are feasible in bowel disease research. We want to clarify if there are certain diseases or treatments which are better suited to DART studies than others. This approach could help produce better quality evidence in underfunded bowel conditions.
This could allow charities or other research funders to better understand what future studies may benefit from a DART approach. This could lead to better funding allocation and improve the chances of delivering good quality research. In turn, this will improve patient care and is beneficial to the public.
The research team
This study is led by Mr Stephen Chapman at the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Trust.