Bell Lauren, Chapman Rachel, Ashton Charlotte, Batey Claire, Brazier Jack, Castle Elizabeth, Chaggar Arundeep, Elston Julian, Esat Faye, Simpkins Hannah Goldwyn, Ho Leonard, Quinn Cath, Sheringham Jessica, Smeeth Demelza, Stylianou Irene, Twite Simon, Woodall James, Taylor Beck
Health Determinants Research Collaboration Coventry, Coventry City Council, Coventry, CV1 2GN, United Kingdom.
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and Coventry City Council, Coventry, United Kingdom.
Health Res Policy Syst. 2025 May 26;23(1):68. doi: 10.1186/s12961-025-01323-x.
In the United Kingdom, local government is well placed to conduct and apply research regarding the wider determinants of health. However, local authorities often lack sufficient research infrastructure to support research capacity, capability and culture. Since 2022, the UK National Institute for Health and Care Research has funded 30 Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs) to develop this infrastructure. HDRCs are hosted by local authorities collaborating with universities and other partners to strengthen a culture of evidence-informed decision-making. HDRCs are conducting local evaluations, including baseline assessments of local authority research capacity, capability and culture.
A national peer-support group was formed to support shared learning amongst teams evaluating HDRCs. Here, as embedded evaluators from 10 HDRCs, we present reflections on the planning, delivery and interpretation of baseline assessments. Reflections were gathered via group discussions and written submissions. All 10 HDRC baseline assessments explored local authority research capacity, capability and culture, and two also studied early HDRC team collaboration.
Competing priorities during early HDRC implementation called for pragmatic and timely baseline assessment methods. Most HDRCs developed baseline surveys, though interviews and focus groups were conducted by some. Despite similar aims, methods varied substantially according to local contexts. Evaluators often adapted existing validated survey tools, for example, from health settings, as none were identified for use across local government. Definitions of research also ranged from academic definitions to broader notions of evidence. Useful insights were gathered across diverse samples to aid implementation locally, however, low response rates were received to all-staff surveys and heterogeneous approaches limited comparison across HDRCs. Findings contributed to recommendations for evaluating and developing HDRC activities (e.g. communications and training provisions) appropriate for local authorities with stretched resources. Where measured, collaborations were functioning well, with recommendations to enhance communication.
The early contexts and challenges of HDRCs influenced pragmatic baseline assessments. Methods were often chosen to capture baseline contexts rapidly, and they will be refined and complemented by additional evaluation methods as HDRCs progress. Developing new validated measures and an agreed definition of research for local authorities may strengthen understanding of research capacity, capability and culture across local government.
在英国，地方政府非常适合开展并应用有关健康更广泛决定因素的研究。然而，地方当局往往缺乏足够的研究基础设施来支持研究能力、水平和文化。自2022年以来，英国国家卫生与保健研究所资助了30个健康决定因素研究合作项目（HDRC）来发展这一基础设施。HDRC由地方当局主办，与大学及其他合作伙伴合作，以强化基于证据的决策文化。HDRC正在进行地方评估，包括对地方当局研究能力、水平和文化的基线评估。
成立了一个全国同行支持小组，以支持评估HDRC的团队之间的共同学习。在此，作为来自10个HDRC的嵌入式评估人员，我们对基线评估的规划、实施和解读进行反思。通过小组讨论和书面提交收集反思意见。所有10个HDRC基线评估都探讨了地方当局的研究能力、水平和文化，其中两个还研究了HDRC团队的早期合作情况。
在HDRC实施初期，相互竞争的优先事项要求采用务实且及时的基线评估方法。大多数HDRC制定了基线调查问卷，不过也有一些采用了访谈和焦点小组的方式。尽管目标相似，但方法因当地情况而异。评估人员经常改编现有的经过验证的调查工具，例如来自卫生领域的工具，因为没有找到适用于整个地方政府的工具。研究的定义也从学术定义到更广泛的证据概念不等。通过不同样本收集到了有用的见解，以帮助在当地实施，然而，全体员工调查问卷的回复率较低，且方法各异限制了不同HDRC之间的比较。研究结果为评估和开展适合资源紧张的地方当局的HDRC活动（如沟通和培训安排）提供了建议。在进行评估的地方，合作进展顺利，并提出了加强沟通的建议。
HDRC的早期情况和挑战影响了务实的基线评估。方法的选择通常是为了快速掌握基线情况，随着HDRC的推进，这些方法将通过其他评估方法得到完善和补充。为地方当局开发新的经过验证的措施和商定的研究定义，可能会加强对整个地方政府研究能力、水平和文化的理解。
