Communications Handbook for Clinical Trials: Strategies, Tips, and Tools to Manage Controversy, Convey Your Message, and Disseminate Results

This handbook is written to provide practical guidance to clinical trial staff and research partners on how to anticipate and respond to the communications challenges posed by the conduct of clinical research. Using context-specific case studies and insights culled from actual communications experience in clinical trials from around the world, this resource covers communication planning, activities, and strategies involved in the implementation of a clinical trial. Organised to correspond to the chronological steps involved in conducting research, this guide focuses on the various communications skills that are needed throughout the course of a trial.

The handbook contains diagnostic tools, sample templates, and materials that research sites can adapt for use in their communications planning and implementation. Communications Handbook for Clinical Trials includes:

• Sample communication plans for clinical trials
  
• Communications and crisis-planning templates and checklists
  
• Scenario-planning tools to facilitate planning for the release of trial results
  
• Ideas on delegating communications tasks to reduce demands on key site personnel
  
• Tips and techniques on how to communicate effectively in interviews, in meetings, and with the media
  

The handbook contains over 40 pieces contributed by researchers and communications specialists who share their ideas, lessons learned, and advice based on their experiences with trials in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the United States, and Europe. It includes the following (available as separate PDF format documents):

• Table of Contents, Preface and Acknowledgements
  
• Chapter One: About This Handbook
  
• Chapter Two: Preparing and Budgeting for Communications
  
• Chapter Three: Developing a Strategic Communications Plan
  
• Chapter Four: Communications during the Trial
  
• Chapter Five: Preventing and Managing a Crisis
  
• Chapter Six: Preparing for and Disseminating Study Results
  
• Chapter Seven: Developing and Using Key Messages
  
• Chapter Eight: Communicating Science Clearly
  
• Chapter Nine: Working with the Media
  
• Appendices
  
• Selected Additional Resources, Acronyms, and References