Patient & Public Engagement: Tools for Inclusion
N2 is committed to strengthening public and patient engagement in clinical research across Canada. We recognize that meaningful involvement leads to more inclusive, ethical, and effective studies. This page brings together toolkits, templates, and strategies to help sites, investigators, and research teams build trust, foster relationships, and encourage participation in clinical trials.
This section includes tools to help you:
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Engage patients, caregivers, and communities in meaningful ways
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Plan outreach events and public-facing education about clinical trials
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Support diverse and inclusive participation in research
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Build trust through transparent, accessible communication
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Co-brand research materials in collaboration with patients and the public
Whether you’re just getting started or growing an existing initiative, these resources are here to help you connect, communicate, and build lasting relationships.
It Starts With Me / Ça Commence Avec Moi (ISWM/CCAM)
Available in both English and French | Open Source Website; other materials require Terms of Use
Created with Patients, for Patients
The It Starts With Me initiative provides clear, accessible resources to help people understand what clinical trials are, why they matter, and what to expect when considering participation. All materials were developed with real patient input to ensure the information reflects lived experiences and supports informed decision-making.
The campaign aligns with the national website
ItStartsWithMe.ca (or ÇaCommenceAvecMoi.ca in French), which offers user-friendly tools to guide conversations between patients, families, and health care providers.
What’s Included?
The Recruitment Brochure is a one-page handout offering easy-to-understand information about joining a clinical trial. It covers key topics like how trials work, what participation involves, and why research is important. Available in English and French, with co-branding options (Terms of Use required).
Videos are short, bilingual clips (with or without closed captions) that highlight the value of research participation from a patient’s perspective. They’re ideal for sharing in waiting rooms, on social media, or at outreach events. Available to N2 members upon request.
Slide Decks are ready-to-use presentations that explain clinical trials in plain language. These are perfect for community events, webinars, and educational sessions with patient groups.
Postcards are printable tools that spark research conversations between patients and providers. They are bilingual and customizable with your organization’s logo.
The Participators
Available in English and French | Open Source
Created by kids, for kids!
The Participators was designed by kids who have participated in research. In fact, all of the characters are based on real children with first-hand experience in clinical research studies! Follow Hazel and Sam as they meet Nate at a children’s research hospital and learn what it means to get involved in research.
The concept, character design, storyboard, and script were developed by Nate Hudson, his mom Antonia Palmer, Linda Warner, and Rich Murray, owner/animator at Rich Toons.
The project was also shaped by invaluable feedback from the Maternal Infant Child and Youth Research Network (MICYRN) and KidsCan/Youth Advisory, helping to ensure the messaging and design reflect real youth voices and experiences.
What’s Included?
A short animated video introduces real kids as characters, sharing what it’s like to take part in clinical research from their perspective.
A printable activity book, created with youth in mind, is filled with games, illustrations, and accessible explanations to help children understand clinical trials.
This resource is ideal for pediatric clinics, school outreach programs, youth engagement events, and science fairs. It’s designed to spark curiosity, reduce fear or uncertainty, and encourage meaningful conversations between children, families, and research teams. A great starting point for helping young people understand their role in shaping the future of health research.
Bridging the Gaps – Advancing New Immigrant Participation in Clinical Trials
Available in English | Open Source
Creating Inclusive Trials
Creating inclusive research environments means more than diverse recruitment—it means engaging communities early, equitably, and with care. These resources are designed to help research teams connect meaningfully with underrepresented populations, reduce barriers to participation, and foster stronger relationships rooted in respect and shared understanding.
Why It Matters
Clinical trials play a pivotal role in advancing medical research and shaping the future of health care. But to fully understand how new treatments work across populations, trials must include diverse participants.
This white paper explores the importance of engaging new immigrant communities in clinical trials. It outlines why representation matters—and how researchers, institutions, and sponsors can take actionable steps to ensure equity in participation.
By including individuals from varied racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds, we can generate more accurate insights, build public trust, and ultimately improve health outcomes for all.
DIY Community Engagement Event Toolkit
Available in English | Member Access Only
Practical Toolkit for Research Teams!
The N2 Public Engagement Committee created this practical, user-friendly toolkit to help research teams, healthcare organizations, and community leaders plan and host inclusive engagement events focused on clinical trials.
What’s Included?
Whether you’re reaching out to the public for the first time or looking to strengthen existing connections, this Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Toolkit makes it easier to plan meaningful engagement. It walks you through how to organize events tailored to your community, with ready-to-use templates for invitations, agendas, evaluations, and more.
You’ll find real-world examples, practical tips, and strategies to support inclusive conversations about clinical trials—especially with diverse or underrepresented populations. The toolkit also offers tools to help build trust, foster transparency, and encourage open dialogue about research.
Designed to be accessible no matter your team’s size, budget, or experience, this is a great starting point for anyone wanting to embed equity and community in their research practices.
Log in to the N2 Member Portal to access the full toolkit and supporting materials.
Ask Me Campaign Toolkit
Available in English and French | Member Access Only
Empower your site to raise awareness about clinical research.
The Ask Me Campaign Toolkit offers ready-to-use materials to help research sites engage their communities and raise awareness about clinical trials. Originally adapted from the 3CTN Ask Me Campaign, this toolkit is a great first step for organizations just beginning public engagement—or a valuable complement to existing outreach efforts.
It includes a turnkey roll-out package to simplify implementation and make the campaign easy to launch. Resources are aligned with national initiatives like ItStartsWithMe.ca / CaCommenceAvecMoi.ca and the Permission to Contact (PTC) programs, making it ideal for promoting broader awareness and participation.
This toolkit is especially helpful for organizations exploring their first engagement activities, and it supports patient and public involvement (PPI) by encouraging inclusive conversations and helping staff feel more confident discussing clinical research.
What’s Included?
The Ask Me Campaign Toolkit helps research sites engage the public through simple, customizable tools. At the heart of the campaign is a bold “Ask Me About Clinical Trials” badge or sticker—designed to invite questions and spark conversations in clinics and at outreach events. The editable files make it easy to add your logo and print locally.
The toolkit also includes a staff training slide deck, a one-page fact sheet for clinic areas, a poster in English and French, a co-brandable brochure for patients, and a resource card with key websites like ItStartsWithMe.ca.
Everything is designed to build confidence, raise awareness, and support conversations between research teams and the public.
Contact n2@n2canada.ca for access to these materials.
Permission to Contact (PTC) Toolkit
Available in English | Member Access Only
Designed to support inclusive enrollment
The Permission to Contact (PTC) platform is a participant enrollment strategy designed to support inclusive and efficient recruitment for clinical research. By integrating a simple question—“Would you like to be contacted for future research opportunities?”—into routine clinical care, the platform helps overcome one of the biggest barriers to research participation.
PTC Table of Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations and Acronyms
1. PTC Toolkit – Planning Phase
1.1 Strategic Checklist
1.2 Budget Considerations
1.3 Governance Framework
2. PTC Toolkit – Stakeholder Engagement Phase
2.1 Stakeholder Engagement Plan
2.2 Communications Strategy
2.3 Privacy FAQs
2.4 Research Ethics FAQs
2.5 General Operations FAQs
3. PTC Toolkit – Development Phase
3.1 Protocol Template
3.2 Data Management
3.3 Participant Materials
4. PTC Toolkit – Implementation Phase
4.1 Staff Training Materials
4.2 Research Evaluation
5. Monitoring and Evaluation
6. Other Resources Available
6.1 The Biobank Resource Centre
6.2 Useful Websites
6.3 Contact
6.4 Glossary
6.5 References
Appendices
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Appendix A – Survey Approach and Guidelines
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Appendix B – Example Surveys
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Appendix C – Stakeholder Survey Table
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Appendix D – Documenting Permissions SOP Template
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Appendix E – Example PTC Participant SOP Template
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Appendix F – Example PTC Process Map
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Appendix G – Example PTC Database Application Fields and Definitions
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Appendix H – Examples of Participant Materials
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Appendix I – Example Research Application Form
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Appendix J – Example Telephone Script When Contacting PTC Participants
What’s Included?
The PTC Toolkit offers clear, practical guidance for implementing the platform in your organization. It covers budgeting, stakeholder engagement, data planning, and readiness steps. Created with OBER, Island Health, and CTRNet, it supports national adoption of core PTC practices.
Available to members of N2 or the Biobank Resource Centre, the toolkit also includes optional consulting support—like project management, training, SOP development, and ethics application guidance. English only. Member access required.