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Lookup NU author(s): Arman Iranpour, Dr Iain McKinnonORCiD, Dr Simon Hackett
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Whilst there is a growing focus on including participants currently under-served in clinical research, underrepresented groups whose involvement is less than would be expected based on population size. There can be a tendency to focus on the barriers to involving participants or researchers in isolation. This approach can overlook the broader context, as barriers might not only be linked to population characteristics but also to the complexity of their environment, and limited research opportunity within certain healthcare professions. The SCHEMA Trial is a randomised controlled trial evaluating whether interpersonal art psychotherapy is effective at reducing aggressive behaviour in individuals with learning disability or borderline intellectual function in secure care. The trial illustrates the challenges and solutions to conducting research in secure care settings, a challenging environment, with an underrepresented patient population and healthcare professionals unfamiliar with conducting research. To better understand the challenges, a survey was circulated to understand site staff’s general experience with research and their specific experiences of the SCHEMA trial. Difficulty of balancing research with other responsibilities and a fear of making a mistake were the most common barriers. The top two facilitators were working with collaborators, and the presence of clear guidelines and protocols. Site set up was identified as the most challenging stage of the trial, while follow up data collection was identified as the least challenging. In response to these challenges, the central trial team worked closely with site staff to provide tailored support to address the unique needs of the healthcare professionals and participant population.
Author(s): Foscarini-Craggs P, Iranpour A, Aafjes-van Doorn K, Franklin M, Harrison TL, McKinnon I, McNamara R, Randell E, Rose S, Zubala A, Riaz M, Hackett S
Publication type: Letter
Publication status: In Press
Journal: Trials
Year: 2026
Acceptance date: 06/02/2026
ISSN (electronic): 1745-6215
