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University of York

The TRECA Study

Improving participant information for children and young people in clinical trials.

The background

Morph worked with the University of York and NHS research teams on the NIHR-funded TRECA programme. TRECA explored whether multimedia participant information could help children, young people and families better understand clinical trials and support decision-making about taking part in research.

The programme evaluated multimedia information within six NHS clinical trials across a range of clinical settings including cancer care, orthopaedics, ophthalmology, emergency medicine and cardiac surgery.

Morph designed and produced the multimedia participant information used throughout the programme, including animations, participant information websites and video content adapted for different studies and age groups.

The challenge

Participant information sheets are an important part of clinical research, but they are often long, technical and difficult to understand.

Children, young people and families are sometimes asked to consider research participation while managing unfamiliar medical information and stressful clinical situations.

TRECA explored whether multimedia information could provide a clearer and more accessible way to explain clinical trials and research participation.

What was TRECA?

TRECA, which stands for TRials Engagement in Children and Adolescents, was a research programme led by Professor Peter Knapp at the University of York and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

The programme explored how multimedia information could support recruitment and informed decision-making in paediatric clinical trials.

Rather than evaluating multimedia information separately, TRECA embedded the approach within six active NHS clinical trials. This allowed researchers to evaluate multimedia participant information in real clinical settings with children, young people and families considering participation in genuine research studies.

The programme also involved a co-design process with children, young people, parents and healthcare professionals to help shape the structure and presentation of the multimedia information resources.

Morph’s role

Morph worked closely with researchers, clinicians and trial teams to design and produce the multimedia participant information used throughout the programme.

Across the six studies, Morph developed:

  • Participant information websites
  • Animated study explainers
  • Talking head videos
  • Age-adapted information pathways
  • Mobile-friendly digital delivery
  • Visual explanations of treatments and study processes

The multimedia resources included both trial-specific content and reusable animations explaining wider concepts such as informed consent, randomisation and clinical trials.

The content was designed to make complex research information easier to understand while remaining balanced, accurate and suitable for children, young people and families.

Each study required a different approach depending on the clinical setting, participant age group and complexity of the research.

Embedded trials

University of Birmingham

A paediatric cancer study involving children and young people with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Multimedia information was developed to help explain treatment pathways and study participation to different age groups.

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

A study investigating treatments for childhood glaucoma. Multimedia participant information was developed to help explain long-term treatment and study participation to children and families.

University Hospital of South Manchester

An orthodontic research study involving treatment using a bonded maxillary expansion appliance. Multimedia information was also evaluated as part of research exploring understanding and decision-making during trial recruitment.

University of Bristol

A cardiac surgery study comparing different temperature management approaches during surgery. Multimedia content was developed to help explain complex surgical research information in a more accessible way.

University of Oxford

A study involving treatment for wrist fractures in children. Participant information was designed to support understanding during recruitment in busy emergency department settings.

University of York

A study exploring treatments for amblyopia in children. Multimedia information was developed to help explain treatment pathways and research participation to children and families.

Research findings

TRECA evaluated whether multimedia participant information could improve recruitment and support decision-making compared with standard printed participant information sheets.

The programme involved six Studies Within A Trial (SWATs), where participants were randomly allocated to receive either multimedia information, printed information sheets, or a combination of both.

Published findings showed that children and young people who received multimedia information alone were more likely to be recruited into trials than those receiving printed information sheets alone.

Research linked to the programme also found that multimedia information was viewed positively by children, young people and families and could support understanding and confidence during decision-making about research participation.

Related links

University of York

THE TRECA STUDY: Trials engagement in children and adolescents

Sage Journals

Evaluating the use of multimedia information when recruiting adolescents to orthodontics research: A randomised controlled trial

NIHR Journals Library

The effectiveness and acceptability of multimedia information when recruiting children and young people to trials: the TRECA meta-analysis of SWATs

BMJ Open

Supporting children and young people when making decisions about joining clinical trials: qualitative study to inform multimedia website development