PRES guidance for staff 2025/2026

As part of the drive to digitise NHS services, from 1st April 2025 PRES has moved to a “digital first” approach on the My Research Experience (MRE) platform.

MRE is a platform to offer PRES digitally, giving participants greater flexibility in how they complete the survey.

MRE is linked to CPMS, allowing the correct study name and ID to be pulled through automatically. It includes improved accessibility features to support a wider range of participants.

PRES should be offered digitally wherever possible. If it is not possible for participants to complete a digital PRES, then the option for paper PRES is still available.

Please stop offering centrally printed and processed versions of PRES (the stick and fold copies you've got from CRIO). These will not be processed after the end of November 2025. Therefore, if a participant asks for a paper version of the PRES, please follow the guidance below.

In the case of studies that are currently included in the Y&H RDN digital PRES (which is based on Google Studio) which you already have QR codes for, please stop offering these codes to participants ASAP. Incrementally the codes will stop working and the data will be lost. Please email lucy.wasinski@nhs.net or katie.gray1@nhs.net to receive an alternative MRE QR code

When do we need to offer the survey?

Please offer the survey to participants taking part in NIHR portfolio research

Who do I need to offer it to?

Any participant of an eligible NIHR portfolio trial. Ideally it should be distributed at a participant’s final engagement with a study, but if you need to distribute it at another stage in the study then you should give it to participants at the same stage of the study so it measures a consistent length of experience. It should be offered at a point when participants have had a chance to build up an experience of taking part but also recall their experience.

PRES must only be completed once per participant per study they are part of.

Do we need consent to offer the survey?

No - consent is not needed. Participants can choose to complete this or not.

Are these given electronically or by paper?

You can do either, but please only offer one option to participants. Please see below for details:

DIGITAL PRES GUIDANCE

Sign up to My Research Experience (MRE) via the following link: PRES - if this is the first time using the platform, you'll need to use the bottom option "Researcher: Sign up", if you've already set up an account then select the middle option "Researcher: Sign in". If multiple team members will be using MRE they will each need to sign up individually.
If you prefer you can then opt for the platform to remember you on your device so that you don’t need to enter your password each time.
The next page is "Create survey"
You will need to search for the study you are offering PRES for using the CPMS ID. If you've already added the study to the list, then it should appear in the drop-down options. If it is the first time you are entering data for the study then you will need to add the study. Search for this using CPMS or IRAS ID - when the correct study appears click "Add study" and it will be there in your drop-down list in future.
You will need to add the site - start by typing Sheffield Teaching Hospitals then click the correct option (you should see options for either RHH/Jessops/NGH etc) and "add site" - this will then be in the drop-down list in future
You then need to choose the survey form – e.g. adult form. If you have completed the previous sections then all the site and study details will be prepopulated on the online PRES form for the participant.
You then need to select how participants access their survey. You will see various options number 1 - 4.
Prefab links used by multiple individuals on a study. Please email Lucy or Katie to request this: lucy.wasinski@nhs.net or katie.gray1@nhs.net with the study’s CPMS ID, site code (for STH it is RHQ) and the short study title, and confirmation which version of PRES you require (eg: adult). This is the best option for large recruiting studies, whereas if you have a study where there are a handful or so of participants then you might want to use the unique code option

PAPER PRES GUIDANCE

Printing and offering

Offer the digital version first; provide paper only if digital is not possible, not appropriate, or not preferred. Use the new PDF versions for Y&H which can be found here.
Ensure the “For Staff Use” section is completed before giving the survey with the study name/acronym, IRAS number/CPMS ID, research site/site code (RHQ for STH). If left incomplete, responses may not be able to be submitted online and valuable participant feedback could be lost. NB: this section appears on the back page of some versions
Explain that PRES is voluntary and that we aim for responses to remain anonymous.
Feedback will only be used to improve research delivery.
Remind participants not to include identifiable details (e.g. names, addresses, rare conditions).
Provide the survey in a private/confidential space where possible.

Collection

Store completed surveys securely in a locked cabinet until data entry is complete.

Data entry

Go to myresearchexperience.com → Researcher: Sign in → enter your email and
password.

Create survey. From the home page, open the menu (icon next to the NIHR logo if hidden) → Create survey.
Select Study. Pick from your list or Add Study (search by CPMS/IRAS/title/specialty) → Add Study to your list.
Select Site. Pick from your list or Add Site (search by site name) → Add Site.
Choose the correct “Paper Input” survey type (Adult / Child 0–6 / Child 7–11 / Child 12–15).
Access method. In Select how participants access their survey, choose Option 1: On site — complete their survey now using this device.
Enter responses. Copy exactly as written by the participant (no interpretation or edits).
Submit. Double-check all entries, enter your email (same one as for log in), and submit.

Destruction

Immediately shred or place in confidential waste once data entry is complete.

Further information about PRES can be found here.