PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Clement, Clare
AU  - Coulman, Karen
AU  - Heywood, Nick
AU  - Pinkney, Tom
AU  - Blazeby, Jane
AU  - Blencowe, Natalie S
AU  - Cook, Jonathan Alistair
AU  - Bulbulia, Richard
AU  - Arenas-Pinto, Alejandro
AU  - Snowdon, Claire
AU  - Hilton, Zoe
AU  - Magill, Laura
AU  - MacLennan, Graeme
AU  - Glasbey, James
AU  - Nepogodiev, Dmitri
AU  - Hardy, Victoria
AU  - Lane, J Athene
TI  - How surgical Trainee Research Collaboratives achieve success: a mixed methods study to develop trainee engagement strategies
AID  - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072851
DP  - 2023 Dec 01
TA  - BMJ Open
PG  - e072851
VI  - 13
IP  - 12
4099  - http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e072851.short
4100  - http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e072851.full
SO  - BMJ Open2023 Dec 01; 13
AB  - Objectives This study aimed to understand the role of surgical Trainee Research Collaboratives (TRCs) in conducting randomised controlled trials and identify strategies to enhance trainee engagement in trials.Design This is a mixed methods study. We used observation of TRC meetings, semi-structured interviews and an online survey to explore trainees’ motivations for engagement in trials and TRCs, including barriers and facilitators. Interviews were analysed thematically, alongside observation field notes. Survey responses were analysed using descriptive statistics. Strategies to enhance TRCs were developed at a workshop by 13 trial methodologists, surgical trainees, consultants and research nurses.Setting This study was conducted within a secondary care setting in the UK.Participants The survey was sent to registered UK surgical trainees. TRC members and linked stakeholders across surgical specialties and UK regions were purposefully sampled for interviews.Results We observed 5 TRC meetings, conducted 32 semi-structured interviews and analysed 73 survey responses. TRCs can mobilise trainees thus gaining wider access to patients. Trainees engaged with TRCs to improve patient care, surgical evidence and to help progress their careers. Trainees valued the TRC infrastructure, research expertise and mentoring. Challenges for trainees included clinical and other priorities, limited time and confidence, and recognition, especially by authorship. Key TRC strategies were consultant support, initial simple rapid studies, transparency of involvement and recognition for trainees (including authorship policies) and working with Clinical Trials Units and research nurses. A 6 min digital story on YouTube disseminated these strategies.Conclusion Trainee surgeons are mostly motivated to engage with trials and TRCs. Trainee engagement in TRCs can be enhanced through building relationships with key stakeholders, maximising multi-disciplinary working and offering training and career development opportunities.Data are available upon reasonable request. The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.