Improving Decision Making in Health Care through Developments in Evidence Synthesis.

Supervisory Team: Professor Andrew Clegg, Professor Dame, Caroline Watkins, James Hill, Dr Valerio Benedetto

Contact: [Email Address Removed]

Theme: Methodological Innovation, Development, Adaptation and Support (MIDAS)

Lay Summary: Much of the health care we receive, whether medicines, operations or other types of care (health interventions), are assessed to see if they are safe, provide benefit in terms of the quality and length of life (clinically effective) and are considered good value for money (cost-effective).

Making accurate assessments of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of different health interventions relies on those making these decisions having access to all the relevant evidence and that it has been analysed appropriately. With the demand for early access to new treatments, the pressure placed on those involved in the decision-making process continues to increase. Often the evidence available is limited (e.g. few published studies looking at specific outcomes), necessitating careful consideration of any uncertainties that may affect its findings. Also, those assessing the evidence have to ensure that they conduct any analysis as quickly and efficiently as possible to ensure that guidance on the use of different health interventions is both timely and provides value for money.

New methods and processes for assessing the evidence on the clinical and cost effectiveness of health interventions continues to be developed. Although these should improve the decision-making process and make sure only the most clinically and cost-effective treatments are provided, we would like to assess what effect they have actually had on decision making, in order to:

·      evaluate whether the new approaches for summarising the evidence are beneficial compared to other methods;

·      investigate whether using artificial intelligence (i.e. machine learning) to help reviewers will make the process more efficient and reliable; and,

·      assess how concerns about health inequalities are incorporated into decision making and how they could be tackled, given the importance they have on peoples’ health and their ability to obtain care.

To accomplish this, we will undertake several evaluations in different areas of health and wellbeing (e.g. mental health, stroke) employing the different approaches to identify the benefits and the limitations involved.

Funding Information: There are two studentship funding options available for this project: PhD (via MPhil) 3 years full-time; MPhil 2 years full-time. Please state your preferred mode of study on the application form.

Application Process: Completed application forms and a fully completed research proposal (not more than 1000 words excluding references) related to the title you are applying for should be returned to the Research Student Registry by email [Email Address Removed] quoting the appropriate studentship reference number (RS/21/18). Potential applicants must:

·      consult the HIAT www.hiat.org.uk and demonstrate consideration of the toolkit in their research proposal

·      discuss their research proposal with the appropriate Director of Studies (DoS) prior to application

·      state the title of the project(s) they are applying for, and the preferred mode of study (PhD via MPhil, or MPhil) where indicated on the application form.

Application forms received without this information will not be considered.