Health and Social Care Delivery Research

HSDR Key Information

Director: Professor Kathy Rowan

Aim: To improve the quality, accessibility and organisation of health services, looking at different models of care. The goal is to produce evidence for service users, managers, commissioners and clinical leaders.

Funding:  Commissioned and researcher-led, no fixed limits on duration or funding

Process: Two-stage process which takes 7 months

Success rate: There is a large drop-out rate of bids at the short listing stage, where only potential 'winners' are selected to go forward. It is vital that short listed projects address the feedback and advice given at this stage.

Summary of Panel Observation Tips

• Commissioned workstream focuses on evaluating models of service delivery and intervention. Researcher-led workstream focuses on research into the quality, equity and patient experience.
• Key criteria is durability and continued relevance (3-4 years time)
• HSDR looks for ambitious large-scale studies of national importance that are solution based!

Key observations from the HSDR panel observations include:

• Clarity and completeness of applications: The panel frequently raised concerns about the readability, clarity, and completeness of applications. This included issues such as lack of white space, unclear connections between work packages, and not directly addressing Stage 1 feedback.
• Detail and specificity: Applications often lacked sufficient detail and specificity, particularly regarding research methods, data management plans, and timelines.
• Patient and Public Involvement (PPI): The panel emphasized the importance of meaningful PPI throughout the research process, including co-design, dissemination, and implementation.
• Diversity and Equity Inclusion (EDI): EDI considerations were deemed crucial, with the panel seeking clear plans for how EDI would be incorporated into the research.
• Data management: The panel highlighted the need for realistic data management plans, including data transfer, linkage, and potential risks associated with these processes.
• Health economics: Distributional cost-effectiveness analysis was welcomed, aligning with the strong interest in EDI.
• Research team expertise: The panel emphasized the importance of a credible research team with appropriate expertise and time allocations.
• Dissemination and impact: Clear and innovative dissemination strategies were encouraged, linking research outputs to implementation and impact.
• Value for money: The panel assessed the value for money of projects, ensuring that proposed costs were justified and realistic.
• Ethics: Ethical considerations, including those related to PPI contributors and research participants, were emphasized.
• Generalisability: The panel considered the generalisability of research findings beyond the study context.
• Timelines: Realistic and well-justified timelines were expected, with the use of Gantt charts encouraged.
• Diversity and inclusivity: The panel emphasized the importance of addressing diversity and inclusivity beyond age and gender, considering factors such as ethnicity, culture, and accessibility.
• Written style: Clear and accessible writing style was appreciated, with the use of plain English summaries encouraged.

Funding Deadlines

HSDR Example

Engaging General Practitioners in Service Development and Quality Improvement in Care Homes: a Realist Synthesis of the Published Evidence

Funding: £165,631.25 2019-2020

Aim: to understand the role which GPs have been demonstrated to play, as part of a wider multidisciplinary team, in development, implementation and improvement of healthcare in care homes, in order to shape recommendations about when they need to be involved, and how to get them involved, in QI in the sector.

Other HSDR Examples

• A Multi-Centre Randomised Controlled Trial to Compare the Effectiveness of Admission Avoidance Hospital at Home with Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment versus Inpatient Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment on the Number of Frail Older People 'Living at Home’
• How best to deliver Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in a cost-effective way
• Accessibility and implementation in UK services of an effective depression relapse prevention programme: mindfulness based cognitive therapy
• Impact of closing Emergency Departments in England (closED)