Download a copy of the project brief here: JDR GP Messaging Project Brief 2025 SWC RRDN
What is the project
We are asking GP Practices to send messages to their registered patients to encourage
them to sign up to the National Join Dementia Research Platform.
Why is the project needed
Join Dementia Research is an excellent way for patients and the public to hear directly about
research projects they may be eligible to support. It empowers them to make their own
informed decisions about taking part in research. JDR is open to people with and without
dementia as well as carers. National sign up rates to JDR are good, however the majority of
people do not have dementia. We would like to increase the number of people with memory
issues and dementia using Join Dementia Research.
Due to the success of the project in 2024/25 we are running the project again.
What are we asking from GP Practices
We have a search which can be run to highlight those eligible for receiving the message.
The criteria for this search is below;
a. People with a confirmed diagnosis of dementia
b. People with a mild cognitive impairment
c. People who have expressed memory concerns (where possible, use last six item
cognitive impairment test scored >6 if there is no code to identify)
d. Those on the ‘GP’s At Risk’ register- the register of people the GPs feel might be at
risk of development dementia due to other factors or family history
e. Excluding those who have learning disabilities without a diagnosis of dementia and
those on end of life care.
We are asking GP’s to send messages out to all who are eligible. We will offer practices
£200 to recognise their support of this project.
JDR leaflets are available for your practices, please contact Heather.Bell@nihr.ac.uk if you
would like some.
We do not expect many patients will call the practice about the message once it has been
received. Across the previous running of this project, calls back to GPs have been minimal
and this is likely because JDR offers a call back function.
A template text message will be used; “[GP practice name] would like to invite you to sign up
to the Join Dementia Research registry open to those with a dementia diagnosis, carers and
healthy people with an interest. Dementia affects 1 in 3 people and research is vital to help
us understand and develop treatments. To find out about memory research, please visit the
Join Dementia Research website.”
We ask that you invoice us for sending the messages. Prior to invoicing we require practices
to confirm the following information to swc.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk.
● Date Text Messages sent
● Number of patients that were sent a text message
● Number of patients who could not be sent a text due to no mobile number
● Text messaging platform used
Many thanks for your support with this project. If you have any questions please contact
swc.rrdn@nihr.ac.uk