Impact of clinical and patient pathway changes on paediatric research during the national COVID-19 response.

In March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, national strategies were implemented across Scotland to contain the spread of the virus, including lockdown measures, travel restrictions and the closure of schools and non-essential services. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the devolved nations prioritised nationally sponsored COVID-19 research and front-line care. 1 As a result, 78% of paediatric studies in Scotland were suspended. In August 2020 after the first COVID-19 wave, the RESTART programme was initiated across health boards to reopen commercial and non-commercial research studies. By March 2021, most paediatric studies were categorised as open to recruitment but without the expected resurgence of patient recruitment. We therefore surveyed the principal investigators (PI) about their opinions on factors, specifically those related to the national COVID-19 strategies, that were affecting recruitment to their paediatric studies. A survey of 11 …