Improving the CTU Network communication - SCTO Platform event 2022

In 2017, the Clinical Trial Unit (CTU) Network of the SCTO established thematic platforms with the overall goal of promoting exchange among experts and of developing tools that will foster a high-quality clinical research infrastructure in Switzerland.

Five years on, the SCTO platforms held their second joint event on the overall theme of communication, attended by more than 75 collaborators from the CTU Network. The goal of the event was to improve and optimise our communication around the platforms’ products. Together, we reflected on ways to explain to our stakeholders what our platforms’ products are, why they are needed and how we can convey our message in clear words. In this regard, Andri Hinnen (Zense) introduced various communication techniques with his inspiring keynote speech on “Who’s afraid of complexity? Moving away from a reductionist mindset towards a reframing mindset”.

In a lively workshop, participants interacted to ultimately improve communication in the SCTO CTU Network and diversify their audience. In various presentations and elevator pitches, the platforms had the opportunity to present their projects and share their experience. 

All platforms presented a highlight from their ongoing projects. Most platforms were challenged to present a selected activity with a 3-minute elevator pitch. Two platforms had the chance to elaborate deeper with a 15-minute presentation. The Auditing Platform gave an overview of their activities and integrated projects, and the Data Management Platform showed the R-shiny Dashboard tool and its potential for all clinical research professionals in displaying personalised data overviews.  All platform products are published on the SCTO Platforms’ Tools and Resources website. The latter was briefly shown, and some selected results of the website statistics were presented. Overall, the website was frequently accessed with more than 5900 new visitors in its first year of activity. The products were downloaded more than 1300 times. Some of the tools are more popular than others. This is due to the nature of the tool and target audiences of the products which widely differ. 

In the afternoon, the participants came together in a World Café style workshop to discuss communication issues on different levels and how to reach the diverse target audiences. The participants were split in groups and allocated to eight tables with specific questions on communicating with internal and external stakeholders. The groups discussed the question for ten minutes and then moved on to tackle the next question. Each group discussed four questions. The results of all eight questions were then presented to the whole audience in short feedback rounds. The outcome and proposals for measures for action to improve communication were summarised and will in future provide guidance to the SCTO Platforms, the CTU Network and the SCTO Executive Office. 

In 2017, the Clinical Trial Unit (CTU) Network of the SCTO established thematic platforms with the overall goal of promoting exchange among experts and of developing tools that will foster a high-quality clinical research infrastructure in Switzerland. The SCTO Platforms are hubs of innovation for all key clinical research areas such as auditing, data management, education, monitoring, project management, regulatory affairs, safety, and statistics and methodology.  In the platforms, members share their knowledge to develop new solutions for the most current challenges and serve as the primary contact point for questions and suggestions.  During the last five years, the platforms developed and conducted a bounty of projects, all of national relevance and provided numerous and an incredible variety of tools to the Swiss research community and the CTU Network. All are published on the Tools & Resources website. 

For the current funding period the platforms focus on tools to support HRO studies*, which make up a large part of the projects supported by the CTUs.  By developing these new HRO resources and improving the communication around them, we look forward to a promising future for the platforms and to many more fruitful endeavours.

*Studies / projects falling under the Ordinance on Human Research with the exception of clinical trials (HRO)