BRIGHT: Brushing RemInder 4 Good Oral Health - Involving Young People

Objectives: To involve young people in the design and conduct of the BRIGHT trial.

There is growing recognition of the need to involve children in the design and conduct of research to: improve their experiences of research participation; ensure the outcomes being collected and data collection methods are appropriate; and optimise recruitment and retention. The BRIGHT trial is investigating the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a school-based behaviour change programme to improve the oral health of those aged 11-14 years living in the most deprived areas of the UK.

Methods: A range of methods were used including involving young Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) representatives, a youth forum, workshops in schools and having parent PPIE representatives on the Trial Steering Committee. All PPIE representatives and youth forum members received training and were remunerated for their time and expenses. The youth forum and workshops were run by trained staff members in collaboration with researchers.
Results: Meetings were held with young PPIE representatives during the development of the protocol to select the outcomes of importance and data collection methods. A trial youth forum was established in collaboration with Chilypep, a youth empowerment charity who work with hard-to-reach young people, to meet regularly throughout the conduct of the trial. The youth forum designed the trial logo, revised the participant documentation, reviewed the self-reported outcome measures used, designed a factsheet, were involved in the design of the process evaluation and conducted peer-to-peer interviews during the trial. Workshops were held in schools across the UK to make appropriate refinements to the intervention.
Conclusions: To realise the significant benefits of involving young people actively in trials requires a range of methods, appropriately skilled research team members, collaboration with third parties, extensive planning and the allocation of resources for training and remuneration.