Orthoptists are perfectly placed to significantly contribute to the rapidly growing Ophthalmology research area. As clinicians, we regularly use research to inform our evidence-based practice, and some of us are actively involved in various ways ranging from recruitment for multi-centre studies to being research Orthoptists. The Orthoptic degree provides us with the necessary skills, but once qualified it is underutilised possibly due to time and resource limitations to integrate this into our routine practice.
The Royal College of Ophthalmologists “Research Changes Lives” course was led by Professor Jugnoo Rahi and Lola Solebo, who are prominent Ophthalmologists and researchers, equipped us with tailored information to confidently engage in other’s projects or undertake our own research. It covered a range of topics such as epidemiology, statistics, and practical tips including grant applications and funding sources. There was focus on appraising and applying research including how to critically evaluate papers and ensuring the correct statistical analysis was used.
The importance of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) was highlighted as it can give valuable insight into the lived experience of those with the condition, help identify barriers which could influence adherence, and ensure meaningful outcomes. PPI is essential in all stages including designing, conducting and disseminating the information, and encouraged to strengthen ethics and grant applications. The James Lind Alliance in conjunction with National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) highlight 12 areas in Ophthalmology which require further research and the top 10 priorities for each.
The main ‘take-home’ message from the course was the PICO framework, which is used to formulate a research question and can be applied when critically evaluating a paper. It will allow you to determine from the title and the abstract if the paper addresses the research question, and whether it is worth reading.
P: Population/ patient/ problem (Who is the study population?)
I: Intervention (or exposure) (What do authors do to them? / What are they exposed to?)
C: Comparison (What do authors compare the intervention/exposure with?)
O: Outcome (What do authors hope to accomplish, measure, improve or affect?
There are many ways to engage in research such as contacting your Trust’s Research and Development department or your NIHR Regional Research Delivery Network to enquire if there are any studies requiring Ophthalmology involvement, participating in BIOS projects or discussing with your line manager the possibility of developing a research role with training such as the NIHR Associate Principal Investigator scheme.
Research underpins many of the NHS principles including providing a comprehensive service, determining the highest standards of excellence, and patient-centred care. The NHS Constitution of England includes a pledge to inform people about studies that they may be eligible to participate in, with emphasis on increasing participation diversity especially in underrepresented groups. ‘The future of UK Clinical Research Delivery’ published in 2021, stressed the importance of research to “tackle health inequalities, bolster economic recovery and to improve the lives of people across the UK”. The ‘Allied health professions research and innovation strategy’ published in 2022 highlighted “research is everybody’s business” to achieve transformational impact and sustainable change. Fight for Sight estimated that reducing the prevalence of eye conditions by just 1% could save the NHS a potential of £1.5 billion in the next 5 years.
Sinthiya Kaneshanesan
