Spotlight On A Rheumatology Unit - Charing Cross Hospital and their research expertise.

11/12/07 : Catherine McClinton, Senior Rheumatology Research Sister

The Role of the Rheumatology Research Nurse

A Rheumatology Research Nurse is a qualified nurse with a specialist interest in Rheumatology. They will have had previous experience working in a clinical Rheumatology setting, usually in an acute hospital setting or outpatient department. They have moved into the field of research as they are committed to helping to find new ways of treating their patients with rheumatological diseases.

They work closely with rheumatology specialist nurses and doctors, and as a result you will usually come into contact with them during your outpatient visits. As with the role of any nurse, no two days are the same, and their job varies greatly from one day to the next. The well being of their patients is their motivation.
Lesley Hastings, Catherine McClinton and Kate Dolan-Rheumatology Research Sisters, Charing Cross Hospital

Clinical Research

There are many different ways that research can be carried out within the medical field. Research can vary from a simple questionnaire study, audits, and additional blood tests in clinic to clinical trials. Research is essential to find out whether one treatment is safer and more effective than another although not all clinical trials aim to test new drugs. In some cases, however, new and potentially valuable drugs need to be tested and health professionals aim to provide the highest standard of research based medicine to their patients in order to do this.

Taking Part in Research

In many clinical trials and research projects, recruitment of patients onto the trials is one of the key roles that the research nurses will be involved in. It is a role that must always be approached sensitively and with ethical consideration and approval. With all clinical studies, the way in which patients are recruited for a study must be approved by the local research ethics committee. In the majority of cases in Phase 3 trials, suitable patients will need to have been referred to the study centre by their Rheumatology Consultant or Specialist. Once a patient has been referred to the research nurses, the study will be explained in full detail to the patient. They will be given a patient information leaflet explaining the study and the opportunity to read it and ask questions. The patient will then take the document home to read at their leisure and discuss it with their family, friends or GP. The research nurse will contact the patient to see whether they are still interested in taking part in the study. If not, they will be thanked for their time and the matter will be closed. They will not be contacted again regarding the study. If they are happy to participate in the study they will be asked to attend the study centre for screening. At this point they will have a further opportunity to ask questions and will see the study doctor. If they fulfil the entry criteria, they will be asked to sign a consent form. A patient is free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason and without prejudice. Their future care will not be affected in any way. At no time should a patient feel under pressure to take part in a research study.

The Role of the Research Doctor

		Dr Benjamin Fisher, Dr Anshul Rastogi and Dr Matthew Seymour – Rheumatology Research Doctors, Charing Cross Hospital
		For rheumatoid arthritis (RA) the last decade has not just seen a more consistent approach to the management of this disease but also vastly improved therapies. This has been made possible by a huge and varied amount of research in this area. The range of research varies from being laboratory based to clinical trials that test new medications.

Some of these clinical trials have also assessed both the effectiveness of established medicines (e.g. methotrexate) and their optimum place in the management of RA. Investigation of the cause(s) of rheumatoid arthritis remains a key area of research which may also lead to breakthroughs in disease prevention. Of particular interest are new methods to allow the early diagnosis and prognosis of RA so that effective therapies can be commenced before joint damage develops. The use of ultrasound technology to image joints is likely to be one such method. As a consequence of research there are now many biological therapies (e.g. Remicade, Enbrel and Humira). They are considered to be similarly effective but there are significant differences between them (e.g. the way they work) so that the most appropriate therapy can be tailored to the patient. This is important because patients have different needs, characteristics and safety concerns which will influence the choice of therapy.

Clinical Research at Charing Cross

If you would like to participate in research or find out more please call the Research Nurses on 0309 383 0205