CRN North East and North Cumbria PRES user guide

  • Published: 21 June 2021
  • Version: V4.0 Sept 2023
  • 6 min read

PRESApp User Guide

Overview

This guide refers to PRESApp version 5. PRESApp has been updated to both enhance the functionality and to restructure the data to allow the application to scale better. Version 5 updates include:

  • User selectable light or dark theme
  • Batch email invites - email invites to multiple participants
  • Enhanced functionality for administrators to manage the system

PRESApp can be accessed at myresearchexperience.com or alternatively, if your organisation is blocking that site, try this alternative link to PRESApp.

All queries regarding PRESApp should be directed to presnorth@nihr.ac.uk

PRESApp landing page

The application (PRESapp) is available to all myresearchexperience.com visitors i.e. researchers and participants who will see the 'landing' page (images below). The 'Accessibility' option is available to all PRESapp users and shows the Recite Me accessibility toolbar - see the 'Accessibility and language' section below.  

The application can be switched between a 'light' (image above) or 'dark' theme using the 'Theme' button (image below).

The landing page options are:

  • For Participants: Select ‘I have a survey code’ and enter their 8 character code. NOTE: participants who receive a survey link via email will access their survey form directly and will not see the Landing Page
  • For Researchers: Choose one of the following options

Sign In

Select ‘Researcher: Sign in’ if they have an account.

Can't remember your password? Enter your sign in email address and select 'Forgot Password?' to receive a reset password link



Sign Up

Select 'Researcher: Sign up' to create a PRES account. NHS linked email addresses will automatically generate an account upon the email address being verified. The researcher's employing organisation is required to ensure the survey data is linked to the correct RRDN

Researcher home page

On successfully signing in, researchers will see their home page. The menu will display a variety of options as per the image below (select the menu icon next to the NIHR logo if the menu is not visible)

Menu options include:

Sign out: Returns the user to the Landing page and ends the user’s session

Create Survey: Options for creating a survey invite

User Settings: Displays the User Settings page from where the user can manage their account including their study and site lists

User Guide: Opens this user guide

Reports: Enabled by your RRDN and will show links to RRDN\organisation specific reports

Create a survey invite

There are a variety of options for inviting a study participant to complete a survey, all of which are available from the 'Select how participants access their survey' list (image below).

Before any of the invite options can be chosen, a Study, Site and Survey Form must be selected. The image below shows an example selection and available invite options

Selecting a Study

Select a study from the Study list. The Study list shows studies that you’ve chosen previously. If a study isn’t listed, select the Add Study button to..

  • Add a Study (image below): Locate and select a study either by browsing the list or by typing any part of the CPMS ID, IRAS ID, Title or Specialty (e.g. typing ‘stroke’ will show all studies with ‘stroke’ in the title or specialty). On locating the required study, select ‘Add Study’ to add it to your Study list. Note: Studies can also be added to your account by selecting ‘User Settings’ from the user menu.

Select Site

Select a site from the Site list. The Site list shows sites that you’ve chosen previously. If a site isn’t listed, select the Add Site button to..

  • Add a Site (image below): Locate and select a site either by browsing the list or by typing any part of the site name. PRES response data is linked to site and parent organisation so ensure you choose the correct combination of Site and Parent Organisation shown in brackets after the site name. Select ‘Add Site’ to add it to your Site list. Note: Sites can also be added to your account by selecting ‘User Settings’ from the user menu.

Select Survey Form

Select a survey form from the list of active surveys.

Note: Select 'Show test surveys' and use a test survey if you’re just trying things out. Don’t test\demo with an active survey as any saved  invite\response data will be included in reports.

Participants: Survey access options

The four survey access options are detailed below and the list of options is only available after a Study, Site and Survey Form have been selected. After choosing an option, select the 'Create Survey' button.

1. On site 

This will load and display the survey form on the current device allowing the participant to complete the survey on site. A sample survey form is shown below for information

 

Should the participant try to exit the survey without submitting it (e.g. using the Browser’s ‘Back’ button), the confirmation message shown below will be displayed.

On submitting the survey, the participant will be shown a confirmation 'thank you' message.  On closing the message, a ‘Confirm Email address’ message will then be shown. The researcher confirms their sign in email address to return to the home page. This confirmation step is to prevent a participant from accessing the app's create survey page.

 

2. Unique Code 

This option this generates a unique 8 character code that a participant can use to complete a survey in their own time and on their own device. Copy the unique code to a card and give it to the participant. The card should have the URL of the app printed on it (https://myresearchexperience.com) as the participant will have to access the app on their device and choose the 'I have a survey code' option to access their survey.


3. Email Link 

A unique survey link can be emailed to the participant by completing the details as shown below. An automatic reminder will be sent after 5 days if a survey response has not been received. The participant’s email address will be removed from the system immediately upon a survey response being received or immediately following the sending of a reminder - whichever is earlier.

4. Batch Email 

A unique survey link for the selected study, site and survey form can be emailed to multiple participants (image below). Participant email addresses can be added manually to the batch list or uploaded from a .csv file to the batch list. The .csv file should have a single column (no header) of participant email addresses. 

Manually add email addresses

Select 'Add manually' to show the 'Add email addresses' input page. Email addresses that you add will show on the batch list from where they can be edited or removed if necessary.

Upload email addresses from file

Select 'Upload from file' to show the 'Upload email addresses' page. Select the required .csv file and then the 'Upload' button. Addresses will then be uploaded to the batch list from where they can be edited or removed if necessary.

Accessibility and language options

When enabled, the app shows the Recite Me accessibility toolbar (image below).

 

The assistive options include:

  • Screen Reader - to read aloud the website’s text
  • Reading - the reading ruler, screen mask and magnifier can assist users with reading and learning disabilities
  • Styling - to change the way the website looks. Colours, font size and style can be changed to assist neurodivergent users
  • Translation - translates the website’s content into the chosen language for users who don’t have english as their first language

Options guidance

The ‘Guidance’ option on  the ‘Accessibility’ menu (image below) will open the Recite Me guidance in a new Browser tab. 

Enabling and disabling

The accessibility options toolbar should only be enabled when required

Either the researcher or participants who want to complete the survey form on site may require assistance and they will need to be informed and guided if they want to use any of the accessibility toolbar options to assist them in completing the survey form.

The accessibility options toolbar is disabled by default and can be enabled via the ‘Accessibility’ menu.

Once enabled, the toolbar will remember your chosen preferences and make them available next time you access the app.

Select the close button on the toolbar to hide or disable the toolbar.

Participants who complete the survey form in their own time, i.e. off-site, can enable the accessibility toolbar and also access the guidance as above.