CRUK Cancer Prevention Trials Unit at QMUL

Behavioural Science

BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE

What are we doing?

Informing Trial Design

We use behavioural science evidence and understanding to inform the development of participant-facing materials, recruitment strategies, and data collection methods, ensuring our trials are accessible, engaging and participant-centred.

Evaluating screening & prevention interventions

We conduct mixed-methods sub-studies in CPTU trials to explore the acceptability, uptake and psychological impact of new cancer screening & prevention interventions.

Advancing trial conduct

Within our trials, we test new ways to improve the efficiency of trial design using studies within trials (SWATs).

Our Team

We have several embedded behavioural scientists in the CPTU who support our trials.

We also work closely with the wider Cancer Behavioural Science Group in the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, with over 20 behavioural and social scientists with a broad range of expertise.

Jo Waller

Professor Of Cancer Behavioural Science

Emma Lidington

Research Associate (Behavioural Science)

Elisavet Moschopoulou

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Inform: Existing behavioural science evidence is used to inform recruitment and retention strategies.

Incorporate: Qualitative or quantitative work is undertaken to examine potential strategies to improve recruitment or retention with a view to implementing successful approaches in the current trial. The qualitative work may include examining motivators and barriers to participation to select appropriate interventions. Quantitative work could include nested randomised controlled trials to evaluate existing interventions.

Innovate: Qualitative or quantitative work could be undertaken to develop new interventions for recruitment or retention such as the development and use of digital tools or staff-facing interventions. This may include qualitative work to examine motivators and barriers to taking part in clinical trial activities in addition to co-development projects to create new interventions based on the qualitative findings. Quantitative work could also include nested randomised controlled trials to evaluate the new interventions.