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Methodology Monday March Roundup
The latest #MethodologyMonday, is a study by Emma Lidington et al., which establishes a co-developed, acceptable set of self-reported demographic questions intended to fill the current absence of UK guidance for inclusive demographic data collection in health research.
Using public and patient involvement consultation with diverse contributors, the authors reviewed and refined an initial pool of national survey–derived items covering protected characteristics and underserved groups, reducing them to 15 core questions after iterative discussion.
This standardised question set aims to improve comparability across studies and enhance researchers’ ability to monitor and evaluate inclusivity in study participation.
Ref. Lidington, E., Stiles, M., Maudsley, J. et al. Establishing a set of acceptable demographic questions for use in health research through public consultation. Res Involv Engagem 12, 24 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-026-00836-1
This #MethodologyMonday article describes a framework for integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into clinical trials and health and social care research. Gedela et al's (2024) framework outlines actions researchers and institutions can take when designing studies, recruiting participants, and conducting trials. The aim of which is to make research more inclusive and produce evidence that better reflects real-world populations.
Ref. Gedela K, Wong R, Balendra S, et al Embedding equity, diversity and inclusion processes within clinical trials and health and social care research BMJ Open 2025;15:e091807. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-091807 https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/3/e091807
This #MethodologyMonday commentary by Kirk and colleagues argues that while increasing inclusion in clinical trials is often presented as progress, inclusion alone does not guarantee meaningful improvements in health outcomes. The authors explain that current frameworks, while well-intentioned, often rely on fixed demographic categories (which can be exclusionary) and focus on who participates in clinical trials rather than whose knowledge shapes them.
They conclude that inclusion must go beyond demographic representation and instead sculpt research priorities so that clinical trials generate knowledge that better addresses the needs of diverse patient populations.
Ref. Kirk UB, Georgiou N, Hillel R, Moraga P. Beyond inclusion: are clinical trials solving the right problem? Trials. 2026 Feb 21;27(1):170. doi: 10.1186/s13063-026-09583-w. PMID: 41723482; PMCID: PMC12924371. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12924371/
The #MethodologyMonday article by Versavel and colleagues presents a sponsor-driven, cross-functional framework for integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across all phases of clinical trial design and execution, emphasising that representative enrollment is essential for generating generalisable and clinically relevant evidence. It outlines operational strategies—including inclusive eligibility criteria, community and patient advocacy engagement, and deliberate site and vendor selection—to improve recruitment, retention, and participation of underrepresented populations. The authors conclude that systematic implementation and iterative evaluation of these DEI practices are necessary to enhance trial representativeness and the evidence base for equitable healthcare delivery
Ref. Versavel, S., Subasinghe, A., Johnson, K., Golonski, N., Muhlhausen, J., Perry, P., Sanchez, R. Diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical trials: A practical guide from the perspective of a trial sponsor, Contemporary Clinical Trials, Volume 126, 2023
