Reality Check : Research Recruitment Assistance

The Type 1 Diabetes Network is a unique network of people affected by Type 1 diabetes and therefore receives hundreds of requests to recruit participants for a range of research projects.

We are pleased to support and promote quality research into Type 1 diabetes and the experience of living with the condition, and simply ask that researchers and students undertake do the following:

1. Contact us at the earliest possible stage in your project, and seek advice on your recruitment strategy from the outset of your project. We frequently receive requests to assist with recruitment after avenues such as hospitals have been exhausted, and not infrequently researchers are reachign desperation! It can be difficult to engage young adults in research. The Type 1 Diabetes Network, especially through our 10 year-old online community Reality Check, have extensive experience in engaging and recruiting young adults and other people with Type 1 diabetes. We would be more than pleased to receive enquiries and provide some feedback on recruitment strategies early in the planning of a research project. We are also able to assist you more effectively if given sufficient notice to plan communication of your project in with our other activities.

2. Send us a copy of your study's ethics approval - preferably by or by post if only hard copy available. We do not have a fax/facsimile facility.

3. Provide us with the name of your sponsoring institution as well as name and contact details of your supervisor (if not already provided as part of the ethics approval documentation).

4. Send us a summary of your research and the text for advertising for participants. Please ensure this information includes how your research will build on the existing evidence base in the area and/or how it will be different form other research in the field.

5. Provide us with details of what specific avenues you are interested in using to recruit for your research. Options available will vary given the number of requests we receive in any one period and the activities we have underway at the time of your request, but may include posting a message on the Reality Check online community of young adults with Type 1 diabetes or the Munted Pancreas online community of parents of children with Type 1 diabetes, a message in our monthly email newsletter Yada Yada or distributing flyers at events. We do not currently have the capacity to disctribute information through the mail.

6. Commit to sending us a copy of your results so as we can report back to participants and our members through our website and newsletter. Please ensure you tell us in your request when we should expect to receive the resulst of your research.

7. Inform us promptly of any publications which result from your research.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Reproduction of any material from the websites or other publications of The Type 1 Diabetes Network Inc. must be specifically approved in writing. Requests should be submitted using the same contact details provided below. We endeavour to respond to all requests promptly and efficiently.

All information and correspondence should be sent to:

We look forward to receiving the necessary information and seeing if we can assist with recruitment and support of your research project.