Enhancing pragmatic competence in investigator-initiated clinical trials: structure and evaluation of the CONSCIOUS II training programme

Abstract Introduction Investigator-initiated trials (IITs) bridge the gap between applied clinical research and everyday clinical practice. However, they require the skilled multidisciplinary teams from different backgrounds but all with clinical trial training to ensure trials are designed, conduct...

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Main Authors: Jitka Rychlíčková, Zora Čechová, Viktoria Nagy, Kateřina Nebeská, Lenka Součková, Stéphane Mouly, Gabor Laszlo Kovacs, Christine Kubiak, Eva Takács, Tiago H. Moreira de Oliveira, Marco Painho, Emília C. Monteiro, Sara Maia, Joana Batuca, Frances Shiely
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07054-5
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author Jitka Rychlíčková
Zora Čechová
Viktoria Nagy
Kateřina Nebeská
Lenka Součková
Stéphane Mouly
Gabor Laszlo Kovacs
Christine Kubiak
Eva Takács
Tiago H. Moreira de Oliveira
Marco Painho
Emília C. Monteiro
Sara Maia
Joana Batuca
Frances Shiely
author_facet Jitka Rychlíčková
Zora Čechová
Viktoria Nagy
Kateřina Nebeská
Lenka Součková
Stéphane Mouly
Gabor Laszlo Kovacs
Christine Kubiak
Eva Takács
Tiago H. Moreira de Oliveira
Marco Painho
Emília C. Monteiro
Sara Maia
Joana Batuca
Frances Shiely
author_sort Jitka Rychlíčková
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Investigator-initiated trials (IITs) bridge the gap between applied clinical research and everyday clinical practice. However, they require the skilled multidisciplinary teams from different backgrounds but all with clinical trial training to ensure trials are designed, conducted and reported according to best practice and regulatory standards. The availability of trainings to fulfil these needs is limited. The CONSCIOUS II project facilitated to expand the supply of such programmes. The objective is to describe the curriculum designed for PhD students and early-career researchers, and evaluate participants’ perceptions and feedback after completion of the training. Methods The curriculum was developed according to key principles that underpin building of competencies relevant to quality IITs and transdisciplinary skills. A multidisciplinary team created the curriculum, elaborated a comprehensive set of study materials, including the training platform. This team also conducted an international, collaborative pilot course. The effectiveness of the educational materials for the target audience was assessed through questionnaires administered after the pilot course. Additionally, all learning materials, including the video recordings of the pilot course, were externally evaluated. Results A 12-chapter thoroughly revised curriculum was developed for asynchronous preparation and served as a pre-class reading for a 3-month pilot course. The chapters, along with supplementary materials, and recordings of the pilot course are freely accessible on the CONSCIOUS II training platform. This platform facilitates the dissemination and implementation in the existing curricula. The feedback from both the pilot course participants and the stakeholders was uniformly positive across all survey aspects. Conclusion This remote programme which combines asynchronous and synchronous components with international and interprofessional collaboration effectively addresses the gap in developing core competencies for the 21st -century clinical researchers. The implementation of this curriculum has the potential to improve the quality of IITs.
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spelling doaj-art-3ed66f7b33104f90baed7fd7b7b4b0242025-08-20T03:06:54ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202025-04-012511710.1186/s12909-025-07054-5Enhancing pragmatic competence in investigator-initiated clinical trials: structure and evaluation of the CONSCIOUS II training programmeJitka Rychlíčková0Zora Čechová1Viktoria Nagy2Kateřina Nebeská3Lenka Součková4Stéphane Mouly5Gabor Laszlo Kovacs6Christine Kubiak7Eva Takács8Tiago H. Moreira de Oliveira9Marco Painho10Emília C. Monteiro11Sara Maia12Joana Batuca13Frances Shiely14Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk UniversityUniversité Paris Cité, UFR EILACentre of Excellence, CREATIC at Masaryk UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk UniversityDépartment de Médecine Interne at Hopital Lariboisiere, Université Paris CitéSzentágothei Research Centre, University of PécsEuropean Clinical Research Infrastructure Network (ECRIN)Pharmaceutical Development and Clinical Research Competence Center, University of SzegedNOVA Information Management SchoolNOVA Information Management SchooliNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portuguese Clinical Research Infrastructure NetworkClinical Coordinators Team in the NOVA Clinical Research Unit, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de LisboaiNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de LisboaHRB Clinical Research Facility and School of Public Health, University College CorkAbstract Introduction Investigator-initiated trials (IITs) bridge the gap between applied clinical research and everyday clinical practice. However, they require the skilled multidisciplinary teams from different backgrounds but all with clinical trial training to ensure trials are designed, conducted and reported according to best practice and regulatory standards. The availability of trainings to fulfil these needs is limited. The CONSCIOUS II project facilitated to expand the supply of such programmes. The objective is to describe the curriculum designed for PhD students and early-career researchers, and evaluate participants’ perceptions and feedback after completion of the training. Methods The curriculum was developed according to key principles that underpin building of competencies relevant to quality IITs and transdisciplinary skills. A multidisciplinary team created the curriculum, elaborated a comprehensive set of study materials, including the training platform. This team also conducted an international, collaborative pilot course. The effectiveness of the educational materials for the target audience was assessed through questionnaires administered after the pilot course. Additionally, all learning materials, including the video recordings of the pilot course, were externally evaluated. Results A 12-chapter thoroughly revised curriculum was developed for asynchronous preparation and served as a pre-class reading for a 3-month pilot course. The chapters, along with supplementary materials, and recordings of the pilot course are freely accessible on the CONSCIOUS II training platform. This platform facilitates the dissemination and implementation in the existing curricula. The feedback from both the pilot course participants and the stakeholders was uniformly positive across all survey aspects. Conclusion This remote programme which combines asynchronous and synchronous components with international and interprofessional collaboration effectively addresses the gap in developing core competencies for the 21st -century clinical researchers. The implementation of this curriculum has the potential to improve the quality of IITs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07054-5Investigator-initiated trialsCurriculumEarly-career researchersPractice-oriented
spellingShingle Jitka Rychlíčková
Zora Čechová
Viktoria Nagy
Kateřina Nebeská
Lenka Součková
Stéphane Mouly
Gabor Laszlo Kovacs
Christine Kubiak
Eva Takács
Tiago H. Moreira de Oliveira
Marco Painho
Emília C. Monteiro
Sara Maia
Joana Batuca
Frances Shiely
Enhancing pragmatic competence in investigator-initiated clinical trials: structure and evaluation of the CONSCIOUS II training programme
BMC Medical Education
Investigator-initiated trials
Curriculum
Early-career researchers
Practice-oriented
title Enhancing pragmatic competence in investigator-initiated clinical trials: structure and evaluation of the CONSCIOUS II training programme
title_full Enhancing pragmatic competence in investigator-initiated clinical trials: structure and evaluation of the CONSCIOUS II training programme
title_fullStr Enhancing pragmatic competence in investigator-initiated clinical trials: structure and evaluation of the CONSCIOUS II training programme
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing pragmatic competence in investigator-initiated clinical trials: structure and evaluation of the CONSCIOUS II training programme
title_short Enhancing pragmatic competence in investigator-initiated clinical trials: structure and evaluation of the CONSCIOUS II training programme
title_sort enhancing pragmatic competence in investigator initiated clinical trials structure and evaluation of the conscious ii training programme
topic Investigator-initiated trials
Curriculum
Early-career researchers
Practice-oriented
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07054-5
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