Sample report: a worked example.
This is an invented clinical trial with illustrative figures. It shows the format and the level of detail you get. Real reports belong to our clients and are never published.
What was asked
A Phase II clinical trial of a new treatment for adults with moderate to severe eczema. Three documents: the participant information sheet (version 0.3), the visit schedule, and the invitation email. Members were asked what was unclear, what would put them off, and what was missing.
Who took part
Two short surveys went to 300 members with eczema, matched to the breakdown of the condition. 40 of them then reviewed the three documents on screen, and 14 of those recorded a voice note talking through the visit schedule. The 40 reviewers:
| Group | Reviewers |
|---|---|
| Female | 22 |
| Aged 18 to 39 | 15 |
| Aged 60 or over | 11 |
| Asian | 5 |
| Black | 2 |
| Most deprived two fifths of areas | 13 |
| Living with asthma as well | 9 |
Nobody in this report can be identified.
What members raised, and what changed
Illustrative: the six points, how many raised each, and the response
| Point raised | Raised by | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Seven clinic visits in 24 weeks, most in working hours. Several said they couldn't take that many mornings off. | 27 of 40 | Changed. Two visits moved to video calls. Early morning and evening slots added. |
| The sheet describes a flare as "red, inflamed skin". Members with darker skin said their flares look dark brown, purple or grey, and they wouldn't have recognised the description. | 6 of 7 Black and Asian reviewers, 4 others | Changed. Flares now described as red, dark brown, purple or grey, with photos across skin tones. |
| Travel costs and payment weren't mentioned until page 6. | 19 of 40 | Changed. Moved to page 1. |
| Stopping current creams for four weeks before starting felt too long without knowing what they could still use. | 31 of 40 | Partly changed. The four weeks stay, because the clinical trial needs a clean starting point to measure against. The sheet now lists the moisturisers members can keep using and who to call if their skin gets worse. |
| Three blood tests at the first visit. | 12 of 40 | Not changed. Needed for safety checks. The reason is now explained on the sheet. |
| The invitation email's subject line didn't say it was about eczema. | 188 of 300 in the survey | Changed. Subject line now names the condition and the time commitment. |
"Four weeks without my cream is four weeks of not sleeping. Just tell me what I'm still allowed to use."From a voice note, on the four weeks without treatment
What didn't change, and why
The four-week gap before starting and the three blood tests. Both are needed for the clinical trial to be safe and to measure what it sets out to measure. Members were told why.
Sign-off
Clinical trial lead, delivery lead, and the date members received their summary. In a real report, these carry names and dates. In this example they're left blank.
What's in every report