1
|
Hamakawa N, Kogetsu A, Isono M, Yamasaki C, Manabe S, Takeda T, Iwamoto K, Kubota T, Barrett J, Gray N, Turner A, Teare H, Imamura Y, Yamamoto BA, Kaye J, Hide M, Takahashi MP, Matsumura Y, Javaid MK, Kato K. The practice of active patient involvement in rare disease research using ICT: experiences and lessons from the RUDY JAPAN project. Res Involv Engagem 2021; 7:9. [PMID: 33526087 PMCID: PMC7852111 DOI: 10.1186/s40900-021-00253-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of patients in medical research is changing, as more emphasis is being placed on patient involvement, and patient reported outcomes are increasingly contributing to clinical decision-making. Information and communication technology provides new opportunities for patients to actively become involved in research. These trends are particularly noticeable in Europe and the US, but less obvious in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate the practice of active involvement of patients in medical research in Japan by utilizing a digital platform, and to analyze the outcomes to clarify what specific approaches could be put into practice. METHODS We developed the RUDY JAPAN system, an ongoing rare disease medical research platform, in collaboration with the Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases Study (RUDY) project in the UK. After 2 years of preparation, RUDY JAPAN was launched in December 2017. Skeletal muscle channelopathies were initially selected as target diseases, and hereditary angioedema was subsequently added. Several approaches for active patient involvement were designed through patient-researcher collaboration, namely the Steering Committee, questionnaire development, dynamic consent, and other communication strategies. We analyzed our practices and experiences focusing on how each approach affected and contributed to the research project. RESULTS RUDY JAPAN has successfully involved patients in this research project in various ways. While not a part of the initial decision-making phase to launch the project, patients have increasingly been involved since then. A high level of patient involvement was achieved through the Steering Committee, a governance body that has made a major contribution to RUDY JAPAN, and the process of the questionnaire development. The creation of the Patient Network Forum, website and newsletter cultivated dialogue between patients and researchers. The registry itself allowed patient participation through data input and control of data usage through dynamic consent. CONCLUSIONS We believe the initial outcomes demonstrate the feasibility and utility of active patient involvement in Japan. The collaboration realized through RUDY JAPAN was enabled by digital technologies. It allowed busy patients and researchers to find the space to meet and work together for the Steering Committee, questionnaire development and various communication activities. While the practice of active patient involvement in Japan is still in its early stages, this research confirms its viability if the right conditions are in place. (331 words).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nao Hamakawa
- Department of Biomedical Ethics and Public Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kogetsu
- Department of Biomedical Ethics and Public Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Moeko Isono
- Department of Biomedical Ethics and Public Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chisato Yamasaki
- Department of Biomedical Ethics and Public Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shirou Manabe
- Department of Medical Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Takeda
- Department of Medical Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Iwamoto
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tomoya Kubota
- Department of Functional Diagnostic Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Joe Barrett
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nathanael Gray
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alison Turner
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Yukie Imamura
- HAEJ, Non-profit Patient Organization for Hereditary Angioedema in Japan, Kakogawa, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Beverley Anne Yamamoto
- HAEJ, Non-profit Patient Organization for Hereditary Angioedema in Japan, Kakogawa, Hyogo, Japan
- HAEi, Non-profit International Patient Organization for Hereditary Angioedema registered in the US, Fairfax City, Virginia, USA
- Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jane Kaye
- HeLEX Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Michihiro Hide
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Masanori P Takahashi
- Department of Functional Diagnostic Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yasushi Matsumura
- Department of Medical Informatics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Muhammad Kassim Javaid
- Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kazuto Kato
- Department of Biomedical Ethics and Public Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|