How do NHS organisations plan research capacity development? Strategies, strengths, and opportunities for improvement

GEE, Melanie and COOKE, Jo (2018). How do NHS organisations plan research capacity development? Strategies, strengths, and opportunities for improvement. BMC health services research, 18 (1), p. 198.

[img]
Preview
PDF
Gee-HowDoNHSOrganisationsPLanResearch(VoR).pdf - Accepted Version
Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (580kB) | Preview
Official URL: https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/article...
Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-2992-2

Abstract

Research that is integral into a 'learning healthcare system' can promote cost effective services and knowledge creation. As such, research is defined as a 'core function' in UK health service organisations, and is often planned through research and development (R&D) strategies that aim to promote research activity and research capacity development (RCD). The discussion focuses around the content of ten R&D strategies for healthcare organisations in England and Scotland, with respect to RCD. These organisations were engaged with a research interest network called ACORN (Addressing Organisational Capacity to do Research Network) that included two Scottish Health Boards, four community and mental health trusts, two provincial district hospitals, and two teaching hospitals. We undertook a thematic documentary analysis of the R&D strategies which identified 11 'core activities' of RCD. The potential for building research capacity in these 'core activities' was established by reviewing them through the lens of a RCD framework. Core activities aimed to 'hard wire' RCD into health organisations. They demonstrated a complex interplay between developing a strong internal organisational infrastructure, and supporting individual career planning and skills development, in turn enabled by organisational processes. They also included activities to build stronger inter-organisational relationships and networks. Practitioner, manager and patient involvement was a cross cutting theme. The potential to demonstrate progress was included in plans through monitoring activity across all RCD principles. Strategies were primarily aimed at research production rather than research use. Developing 'actionable dissemination' was poorly addressed in the strategies, and represents an area for improvement. We describe strengths of RCD planning activities, and opportunities for improvement. We explore how national policy and research funders can influence health systems' engagement in research.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: ** From PubMed via Jisc Publications Router. ** History: received 12-08-2016; accepted 14-03-2018.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Health systems research, Organisational infrastructure, Research capacity development, Research funding
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Centre for Health and Social Care Research
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-2992-2
Page Range: p. 198
SWORD Depositor: Margaret Boot
Depositing User: Margaret Boot
Date Deposited: 05 Apr 2018 11:38
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 15:19
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/19094

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics