Wounds Research Network (WReN) - a community of practice for improving wound care-related trials

Abstract

Poorly designed wound trials that generate knowledge that does not inform clinical practice constitute an example of research waste that undermines evidence-based healthcare. Well-designed trials that generate clinically relevant and robust knowledge are integral to improving health nationwide and achieving universal health coverage. This paper critically analyses the existing challenges associated with improving trials as well as how these challenges can be overcome through a research community of practice, such as the Wounds Research Network (WReN). Although a wide range of people have a stake in improving wound trials, they often belong to different social or professional groups that can make collaborative work challenging. In the UK, WReN demonstrates how a unifying national research community of practice can help people work together to design and conduct studies that generate knowledge that may help improve patient care.