title: Implementation of a Research Participant Satisfaction Survey at an Academic Medical Center.
abstract: This descriptive case study covers the development of a survey to assess research subject satisfaction among those participating in clinical research studies at an academic medical center (AMC). The purpose was twofold: to gauge the effectiveness of the survey, as well as to determine the level of satisfaction of the research participants. The authors developed and implemented an electronic research participant satisfaction survey. It was created to provide research teams at the authors' AMC with a common instrument to capture research participant experiences in order to improve upon the quality of research operations. The instrument captured participant responses in a standardized format. Ultimately, the results are to serve as a means to improve the research experience of participants for single studies, studies conducted within a division or department of the AMC, or across the entire research enterprise at the institution. For ease of use, the survey was created within an electronic data capture system known as REDCap, which is used by a consortium of more than 1,800 institutional partners as a tool from the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Participants in the survey described in this article were more than 18 years of age and participating in an institutional review board (IRB)-approved study. Results showed that the vast majority of participants surveyed had a positive experience engaging in research at the authors' AMC. Further, the tool was found to be effective in making that determination. The authors hope to expand the use of the survey as a means to increase research satisfaction and quality at their university.
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and visiting professor at the Chamberlain College of Nursing.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smailes
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Institute at The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Carson
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reider
authors.affiliation: Center for Clinical and Translational Science at The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Rose Kegler
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Hallarn
authors.affiliation: Clinical Trials Management Office at The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hafer
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Research Office at The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University.
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Miser