title: Developing a new model for patient recruitment in mental health services: a cohort study using Electronic Health Records.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a new model for patient recruitment that harnessed the full potential of Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Gaining access to potential participants' health records to assess their eligibility for studies and allow an approach about participation ('consent for contact') is ethically, legally and technically challenging, given that medical data are usually restricted to the patient's clinical team. The research objective was to design a model for identification and recruitment to overcome some of these challenges as well as reduce the burdensome (and/or time consuming) gatekeeper role of clinicians in determining who is appropriate or not to participate in clinical research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Large secondary mental health services context, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  2106 patients approached for 'consent for contact'. All patients in different services within the mental health trust are gradually and systematically being approached by a member of the clinical care team using the 'consent for contact' model. There are no exclusion criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Provision of 'consent for contact'.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A new model (the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust Consent for Contact model (SLaM C4C)) for gaining patients' consent to contact them about research possibilities, which is built around a de-identified EHR database. The model allows researchers to contact potential participants directly. Of 2106 patients approached by 25 October 2013, nearly 3 of every 4 gave consent for contact (1560 patients; 74.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SLaM C4C model offers an effective way of expediting recruitment into health research through using EHRs. It reduces the gatekeeper function of clinicians; gives patients greater autonomy in decisions to participate in research; and accelerates the development of a culture of active research participation. More research is needed to assess how many of those giving consent for contact subsequently consent to participate in particular research studies.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Medical Humanities and Department of Geography, Durham University, Durham, UK.
authors.forename: Felicity
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5350-1963
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Callard
authors.affiliation: King's College London, SLaM Biomedical Research Centre Nucleus, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Broadbent
authors.affiliation: Oxford Academic Health Science Network (AHSN), Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hotopf
authors.affiliation: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soncul
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.
authors.forename: Til
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wykes
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lovestone
authors.affiliation: King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D017146:Models, Organizational; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: MENTAL HEALTH; PSYCHIATRY