New questionnaire reveals who is – and isn’t – taking part in health research locally

New data is providing important insights into who is taking part in health research in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) – and highlighting groups that remain under-represented.

The findings come from the Bristol Protected Characteristics Questionnaire (BPCQ), a tool developed by Bristol Health Partners to help researchers better understand the demographics of research participants.

Key findings from the data:

• Over-representation of research participants aged over 50 compared with the local population
• Under-representation of people from Black African, Caribbean and Asian heritage communities
• Under-representation of people living in the most deprived areas

How the BCPQ can help researchers

The BPCQ asks research participants about protected characteristics, as well as caring responsibilities and postcode. It was co-produced with members of the public to ensure that people would feel comfortable filling it in and understand why the information is needed.

Researchers can download it for free from the University of Bristol website to use when recruiting participants to a research study or trial.

The BCPQ has been adopted by the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (BNSSG ICB) for health and care studies it supports. It is hoped that it could eventually be used nationally as a standard way of collecting demographic data about research participants.

Why inclusive research matters

Until now, researchers have not routinely collected information about participants’ protected characteristics, making it difficult to measure how inclusive research participation is or whether initiatives to widen participation are working.

Ensuring people from all backgrounds take part in health research is essential so that findings benefit everyone. When certain groups are under-represented, results may not reflect the wider population, which can contribute to health inequalities.

Connie Shiridzinomwa, Senior Project Manager at Bristol Health Partners, said:

“Previously there hasn’t been a consistent or acceptable way of collecting protected characteristics data to understand who is taking part in research. Working with the public helped us ensure that we designed a questionnaire that people feel comfortable completing and understand the purpose of.”

Paul Roy, Associate Director for Research at BNSSG ICB, said:

“Improving inclusivity in research is a priority, but to know whether our efforts are working we need good baseline data. Using the questionnaire will help us measure whether changes in how we recruit participants lead to more diverse participation.”

About the Bristol Protected Characteristics Questionnaire (BPCQ) pilot project

A wide range of people – including those with disabilities and individuals from ethnically minoritised, LGBT+ and faith communities – took part in focus groups to shape the questionnaire. They provided guidance on every aspect of its design, including wording and the order of questions to maximise completion rates.

People who had taken part in National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) studies in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2023 were invited to complete the questionnaire via email, text message or post.

14,670 participants from more than 410 studies responded, providing a detailed picture of representation in local health research. All data collected was anonymous, meaning no respondents could be identified. Read the BCPQ report findings in full.

The BPCQ project was funded by Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity, the NIHR Research Delivery Network (formerly NIHR Clinical Research Network West of England) and NHS England.

The project is part of the work of the BNSSG diverse Research Engagement Network, which aims to build trust between health and care organisations and people from diverse communities, to ensure that all communities benefit from involvement in research.