Welcome to the HOMA (HOmeopathy Meta Analyses) Project Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page. This section provides clear information about the role of patient advisors, how the project is conducted, and how data is handled. The HOMA Project is an innovative initiative in which patients contribute as collaborators rather than research subjects. Their lived experience helps ensure that the systematic review protocols and findings are meaningful, relevant, and understandable to patients and the wider public.
1. Is there a pre-designed protocol
This is an innovative project in which patients are collaborators, not research subjects. Patient advisors contribute to the development of the protocol and to reviewing the findings of the systematic review. Their role is to ensure that what is produced and published is meaningful, relevant, and understandable to patients and the wider public.
2. Is informed consent required?
Patient advisors do not share personal medical details or sensitive personal information. They contribute as patient advisors based on their lived experience.
Participation is anonymous. Input is provided through EFHPA to the researchers.
As participants are advisors rather than research subjects, and no personal health data is collected, formal ethics approval is not required. This has been confirmed by the Gesellschaft für klinische Forschung e.V. (GKF) scientific team.
3. Is ethical approval required to publish the results?
Because patient advisors do not provide personal data and are not study subjects, ethical approval is not required for their involvement. The project structure has been reviewed and deemed compliant for publication in peer-reviewed journals.
4. What happens when patients register?
When registering, patient advisors are asked to confirm:
Their understanding of their role
Their agreement for EFHPA to manage the registration process
Their consent for data handling in accordance with applicable data protection regulations
Their treatment experience is less than 15 years old.
All personal data is handled securely.
5. Who is coordinating the project?
This series of systematic reviews is coordinated by GKF.
Patient Advisor input is coordinated by EFHPA and shared anonymously with GKF. Registration links are used solely by EFHPA for enrolling patient advisors and coordinating feedback to GKF.
6. Does a patient advisor need to obtain consent from other patients?
No. Each individual registers independently and provides their own confirmation and consent during registration.
7. What kind of questions will patient advisors be asked?
Patient advisors will be asked questions related only to:
Their understanding of the draft protocol
Their interpretation of the draft findings
Documents and questionnaires are provided in simplified, non-scientific language and are available in multiple languages to ensure the widest range feedback.
8. Is there a data protection or consent declaration?
Yes. During registration, participants confirm their agreement to data handling procedures. The project complies with applicable data protection regulations. The systematic review series is coordinated by GKF.
9. Patients have to contact the HOMA Project via the link and have to register?
EFHPA is coordinating patients’ input to ensure confidentiality and wide geographic input. All patients will deal directly with EFHPA, and all input to the project is anonymous. If you cannot access the link contact EFHPA directly at HOMA@efhpa.eu.
10. Patients will be contacted by EFHPA and receive links to an online ‘survey’ about their understanding of the research protocol and findings.
As soon as someone signs up and registers on this webpage, it is clear that we will provide an orientation on what they will receive, and that EFHPA will be in direct contact with them regarding the process. Given that the systematic review papers are in development, we do not have surveys to share yet (we have a general template, each one will have sections tailored to the information covered in the protocol or findings).
11. Translations of the final surveys
Once EFHPA receives a final protocol provided simplified English, the survey information will be tailored, and EFHPA will translate the final survey and draft protocol to each respective Patient Advisor’s language for input. EFHPA will have to turn this around quickly and get a response in a short two-week period to allow the principal investigator to incorporate the anonymized patient feedback to finalise the protocol.
The same process will take place for the findings, which will be about 6 months from the protocol, with the Patient Advisor providing direct input during the authoring process. I
If you cannot find the information you are looking for, please send an email to homa@efhpa.eu
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