Assistance for members engaged in research

Mentorship & peer support

We will endeavour to provide a service whereby we will put members in touch with others with similar interests (Objective 4.2. Research & Strategic Vision & Action Plan for NAPOT 2003).

We can do this via our postal system or researchers can do this themselves by posting a message on the website.

Help with research

Our database can be used to aid members engaged in research to access potential participants. Priority research topics were identified by the membership in 2002. Requests for help with research topics supporting these priority areas will be given precedence above others (Refer to Objective 5 Research & Strategic Vision & Action Plan for NAPOT 2003). Restrictions on this service apply and are detailed below.

Data Protection

The requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 must be complied with. Membership details will not be passed on to others including other members without the express permission of those concerned. Thus if a member wishes to contact other members with special skills no member of the NEC, regions or support staff should supply this information directly.

Identifying participants without compromising their confidentiality

Membership details must remain confidential. However, we can act as an intermediary and make an approach to members on the researchers behalf. (Refer to section 4.2.3 Research Ethics Guidelines COT 2003).

Sending out questionnaires / requests for participants on behalf of researchers

  1. No questionnaires or requests for participants will be sent out to members without the researcher ensuring that the study has full ethical approval from a Local Research Ethics Committee (LREC) or Multi-centre Research Ethics Committee (MREC) depending on the scope of the study.
  2. Copies of the full ethic committee submission and the researcher's letter of acceptance must be forwarded to the NEC via HQ office before approval to use the database is given.
  3. If we are not satisfied in any way with the content of the submission the NEC reserves the right to decline co-operation.
  4. Following an application for help one of the NEC will contact the researcher with a decision.
  5. Our funds are not infinite and researchers will be expected to pay the full costs of postage and stationery, and may be asked to contribute to the cost associated with the administration involved. Follow up letters / questionnaires will only be sent out if they were included in the original application to the ethics committee, been approved by that committee and been agreed with the NEC during the original application to use the database.
  6. Researchers should understand that support staff do not have the time or resources for cross referencing therefore follow up letters will be sent out to all the members included in the first mailing and / or placed on the website.
  7. Any researcher contacting us regarding the use of the database will be made aware of the above points.
  8. Researchers also need to be aware of the other demands on headquarters office and on the NEC members and be sensitive to this in their planning and timetabling. We will endeavour to respond in a timely way. To avoid disappointment it is advisable for researchers to contact us before they submit their plan to ethics in case NAPOT is unable to help due to resources.

J. Nicholson
June 2004