Jargon Buster | East of England Citizens' Senate

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Jargon	Description
Data	Data is the information collected through research. It can include written information, numbers, sounds and pictures. It is usually stored on computer, so that it can be analysed, interpreted and then communicated to others, e.g. in reports, graphs or diagrams.
Data Analysis	Analysis involves examining and processing research data, in order to answer the questions that the project is trying to address. It involves identifying patterns and drawing out the main themes, and is often done with specialist computer software.
Data Monitoring Committee	A committee that may be established by the sponsor to assess at intervals, the progress of a clinical trial, the safety data, and the critical efficacy endpoints, and to recommend to the sponsor whether to continue, modify, or stop a trial.
Data Protection	All personal information is protected in the UK by the Data Protection Act (1998). This means that researchers have to put in all the necessary safeguards to protect the confidentiality of the information they collect about research participants. They should explain in the patient information sheet how the participants’ data will be collected, how it will be stored securely, what it will be used for, who will have access to the data that identifies participants, how long it will be kept, how it will be disposed of securely.
Day Surgery	Minor surgery that does not require the patient to stay in hospital overnight.
Delegation Log	A list of appropriately qualified persons to whom the investigator has delegated significant trial related duties. Sponsors/host organisations will usually provide a template for the Delegation Log and researchers should check with their NHS R&D office if any ‘preferred template’ is available.
Deliberative Engagement	Deliberation is an approach to decision-making that allows participants to consider relevant information from multiple points of view. Deliberation enables participants to discuss the issues and options and to develop their thinking together before coming to a view, taking into account the values that inform people’s opinions.
Deliberative Mapping	Deliberative Mapping involves citizens and topic experts considering and discussing complicated issues. The citizens' panels and the experts both consider the issue separately from one another to begin with, and then feed back to one another. The process is designed to demonstrate how support for a proposed course of action is weighed against different economic, social, ethical and scientific criteria. Deliberative mapping therefore opens up a problem to show a whole range of possible answers. Deliberative Mapping usually takes place over a series of meetings. Initially citizens and experts work separately before coming together for a joint workshops.
Deliberative Poll	A Deliberative Poll takes a representative sample of the population, provides them with information about an issue and time to deliberate about it before coming up with a considered opinion. These results are then used as a guide to what the whole population would think if they had a similar chance to deliberate.
Dermatology	The branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders.
Design Charrettes	A Design Charrette is an intensive, hands-on workshop that brings people from different disciplines and backgrounds together with members of the community to explore design options for a particular area. It differs from a traditional community consultation process in that it is design based.
Diagnostic Tests	Blood or urine tests, X-rays, ultrasound and other imaging techniques that help clinicians see what is happening inside the body to help them diagnose a patient condition.
Dissemination	Dissemination involves communicating the findings of a research project to a wide range of people who might find it useful. This can be done through producing reports (often these are made available on the Internet), publishing articles in journals or newsletters, issuing press releases, giving talks at conferences. It is also important to feedback the findings of research to research participants.
District Nurses	Are senior nurses in the United Kingdom's National Health Service who manage care within the community, leading teams of community nurses and support workers, as well as visiting house-bound patients to provide advice and care such as palliative care and wound management.
Disuria	Pain when urinating.
Double Blind	A trial where the investigators and the subjects included in the trial (healthy volunteers or patients) do not know which interventions / treatments have been assigned.
Dysphagia	Having Problems Swallowing