Actively encouraging patients to take part in this project has given the authors valuable insight into the importance of involving patients from the start of any study. This is reflected in UK health policy, which has recently begun to focus on giving patients more choice in both the treatment and management of their conditions (Department of Health[DH], 2012).
The relatively low mean age of the patients who took part in this study was felt to be an important factor in their willingness and ability to play an active role in this evaluation of PolyMem.