It is Monday morning at the CISCRP office, and I open my computer a few minutes before 9 AM and prepare myself for a new week. I normally work from home on Mondays, but a few colleagues who also often work from home were planning to come into the office in downtown Boston today, and I wanted to join them.
As a Medical Writer, I write about clinical trials. Every clinical trial is an incredible achievement, and one that involves collaboration between experts in many areas. They also could not happen without the curiosity and bravery of clinical trial participants, and their steadfast belief in the medical breakthroughs of the future. My job is to tell the story of clinical trials in plain language, with a focus on the big picture. What happened during the trial, and why? What did we learn from the trial? What do we still need to learn?
Our mission at CISCRP is to empower people to make informed decisions about their health and about their participation in clinical research. And this mission is personal. In addition to a Medical Writer, I am also sometimes a patient. As a patient, I know first-hand that it is very difficult to access, let alone interpret the results of clinical research. While doctors and other trusted people can help, navigating the flood of health information online, in news stories, and in advertising is overwhelming. It can be tempting to tune it all out. Yet, it is vital to understand how the newest clinical research impacts our own health care, and to be able to weigh the benefits and risks of participating in clinical research. To do so, we need access to clear, accurate, and unbiased information about clinical trials.
As I ease into the day, I check the stage of each project I am working on. One of my favorite things about this job is the opportunity to learn about many different areas of clinical research through the range of projects I work on. I check my inbox and see an email from one of our editors, who has just reviewed a Plain Language Summary, or PLS, that I had previously drafted. A PLS is a summary of clinical trial results that the trial sponsors distribute to the trial participants and sometimes publish on their website. It takes me about half an hour to go through the editor’s comments in the PLS and make the necessary changes. I send it back to the editor so they can review it. If the editor decides the document is ready, they will give their approval to send it to our graphic designer. During this step, the graphic designer creates visualizations that incorporate details about the trial design and results. This helps make the information easier to read and understand.
The writers, editors, and graphic designers at CISCRP work together to maintain consistency across different summaries, avoid unnecessary jargon that might be confusing, and keep the language and visuals engaging and approachable. We have honed our craft in large part due to feedback from Review Panels on our materials. Review Panels are composed of volunteer patients, patient advocates, and members of the public who give feedback on every clinical trial communication that CISCRP works on. Review Panels continually give us ideas and suggestions for how to make our materials as clear and engaging as possible. With everything we create, the perspectives of patients are always top-of-mind.
Next on my schedule is a “kick-off” meeting with a team from the sponsor of the trial about another PLS project that is getting started. This team from the sponsor may consist of patient engagement officers, trial physicians, and statisticians, who will all help in the planning and drafting process. A Project Manager from CISCRP leads off the meeting, which involves explaining and planning the drafting process and timeline. As we move forward with drafting, the Project Manager will ensure that everyone is moving together and that the project is on time. Next, I present an outline of the PLS itself that I previously prepared for the meeting. Preparing the outline involved going through the Clinical Study Report and other source documents provided by the sponsor, familiarizing myself with the trial, and identifying key pieces of efficacy and safety data to include in the PLS. In the meeting, we discuss the outline, go over any questions, and ensure that everyone is happy with the plan for drafting.
Many of the clinical trial materials CISCRP creates are done in collaboration with, and funded by, the trial sponsors. Sponsors, which are often pharmaceutical companies, are realizing increasingly that patient engagement is important for their success. In addition, the European Union Clinical Trials Regulation Annex V will require that a PLS be written for each clinical trial done within European Union (EU) nations. The EU is also requesting plain-language Protocol Synopses to be written at the beginning of trials, which CISCRP also helps to prepare. This shift towards patient engagement and plain language communications is a positive step forward towards improving literacy about health and clinical research, and I am proud to be a part of it.
After the kick-off meeting, I write down some notes about our discussion while it is still fresh on my mind. Next, I switch gears to another PLS. Another writer drafted this one, and I will be performing quality control, or QC. Given the complexity of clinical trials and the volume of clinical trial documents, it is essential to have multiple sets of eyes reviewing the draft throughout the process. My job now will be to verify every piece of data and every detail about the study design, and to otherwise “fact-check” the document. QC is a rewarding process for all involved. I enjoy getting a “crash-course” in a specific clinical trial while performing a QC. The results and design of clinical trials can be fascinating. From the other perspective, I am always grateful to receive QC results from another writer, as it provides additional confidence that we are creating accurate and high-quality materials.
I finish the QC right at lunch time. The weather is warm, so we head outside to a nearby plaza to enjoy some lunch, get to know our new colleagues, and hear stories about each other’s weekends.
Once back inside, I decide to spend the rest of the afternoon drafting a Plain Language Summary of Publication, or PLSP. Like PLSs, PLSPs are summaries of clinical trial results. However, rather than using the lengthy documents from the trial sponsors as the source material, they use trial results that have been published in an academic journal. Like the publication it is based on, the PLSP will ultimately go through a peer review process and be published in a journal. Compared to PLSs, PLSPs are often heavier on graphics, which means they typically involve close collaboration between the writer and graphic designer. I take time during the afternoon to experiment with different ways of explaining key concepts and presenting the trial results. I use PowerPoint to make “sketches” that our graphic designer will, in turn, use as inspiration to create the visualizations. There are no government regulations to define the scope of PLSPs like there are for PLSs, which leaves more space for creativity. I enjoy this freedom, and believe it is necessary to continue improving and innovating in our work.
By 5 PM, I am happy with my progress on the PLSP draft. I pack up my laptop and say goodbye to my colleagues. I reflect on the day as I head for the elevators.
Written by: Sam Entwisle
