Importance of research
New treatments, technologies, care approaches and devices all need to be carefully and safely tested in real life healthcare environments. Clinical research in these environments is separately funded, adds value to patient care, and has economic value.
The Care Quality Commission now recognises research as a key activity in a ‘Well Led’ Trust and indicators for research are embedded in its Well Led Inspection Framework (Trusts). It recognises that research involves all departments, teams, staff and management functions across an organisation.
Patient access to Clinical Research is recognised in the NHS Constitution and features in the CQC's annual Inpatient Experience Survey. It also has a high profile in the NHS Long Term Plan.
There is good evidence that a good level of research activity in a Trust has an impact on overall patient care outcomes.
We also know that research is important to patients and nowadays nearly every trust has at least one patient research champion/ambassador working with trust staff.
Evidence for the impact of research on patient care
Selected articles
- Patients admitted to more research‐active hospitals have more confidence in staff and are better informed about their condition and medication: Results from a retrospective cross‐sectional study. Jonker L, Fisher SJ, Dagnan D. (2019). Wiley Online Library.
- The correlation between National Health Service trusts' clinical trial activity and both mortality rates and care quality commission ratings: a retrospective cross-sectional study. Jonker L, Fisher SJ. (2018). Public Health, 157, 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe. 2017.12.022.
- High hospital research participation and improved colorectal cancer survival outcomes: a population-based study. Downing A, Morris EJ, Corrigan N, Sebag-Montefiore D, Finan PJ, Thomas JD, Chapman M, Hamilton R, Campbell H, Cameron D, Kaplan R, Parmar M, Stephens R, Seymour M, Gregory W, Selby P. (2017). Gut, 66(1), 89-96. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2015-311308.
- Does the engagement of clinicians and organisations in research improve healthcare performance: a three-stage review. Boaz A, Hanney S, Jones T, Soper B. (2015). BMJ Open, 5(12), e009415. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009415.
- Research activity and the association with mortality. Ozdemir BA, Karthikesalingam A, Sinha S, Poloniecki JD, Hinchliffe RJ, Thompson MM, Gower JD, Boaz A, Holt PJ. (2015). PLoS One, 10(2), e0118253. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118253.