Q-ASSIST: QuAlitative reSearch Supporting IncluSive Trials

Despite growing attention to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in research, participants from underserved or marginalised communities are still not adequately represented in clinical trials. This lack of inclusion limits the generalisability of findings and may add to health inequities.

Qualitative research, which focuses on understanding people’s experiences, the context in which experiences occur, and participant perspectives, has increasingly been recognized as a powerful tool for supporting inclusive research design and evaluation. However, there is little structured guidance on how qualitative methods can be systematically applied to support EDI in clinical trials.

The QuAlitative reSearch Supporting IncluSive Trials (Q-ASSIST study) was developed to address this gap by exploring how qualitative methods can support inclusivity across all stages of a clinical trial. The study examines how qualitative research can be better integrated across the trial lifecycle to address these inclusion gaps.

  • The study

    Want the bigger picture? Explore how the Q-ASSIST study was designed and carried out, phase by phase.

    Explore the study

  • Guiding principles

    Want to know more about how qualitative research can support inclusivity across all stages of a clinical trial?

    Explore our guiding principles

  • Publication

    Read our paper in the Journal of Clinical Epidemiology (2026), about our Phase 1 and Phase 2 findings.

    Read the paper