title: Effects of a demand-led evidence briefing service on the uptake and use of research evidence by commissioners of health services: protocol for a controlled before and after study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are mandated to use research evidence effectively to ensure optimum use of resources by the National Health Service (NHS), both in accelerating innovation and in stopping the use of less effective practices and models of service delivery. We intend to evaluate whether access to a demand-led evidence service improves uptake and use of research evidence by NHS commissioners compared with less intensive and less targeted alternatives.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a controlled before and after study involving CCGs in the North of England. Participating CCGs will receive one of three interventions to support the use of research evidence in their decision-making: 1) consulting plus responsive push of tailored evidence; 2) consulting plus an unsolicited push of non-tailored evidence; or 3) standard service unsolicited push of non-tailored evidence. Our primary outcome will be changed at 12 months from baseline of a CCGs ability to acquire, assess, adapt and apply research evidence to support decision-making. Secondary outcomes will measure individual clinical leads and managers' intentions to use research evidence in decision making. Documentary evidence of the use of the outputs of the service will be sought. A process evaluation will evaluate the nature and success of the interactions both within the sites and between commissioners and researchers delivering the service.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed research will generate new knowledge of direct relevance and value to the NHS. The findings will help to clarify which elements of the service are of value in promoting the use of research evidence. Those involved in NHS commissioning will be able to use the results to inform how best to build the infrastructure they need to acquire, assess, adapt and apply research evidence to support decision-making and to fulfil their statutory duties under the Health and Social Care Act.
authors.affiliation: Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Manchester, M15 6 PB, UK. paul.wilson@mbs.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK. katherine.farley@york.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Farley
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK. carl.thompson@york.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK. d.chambers@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.affiliation: Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK. liz.bickerdike@york.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bickerdike
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK. ian.watt@york.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ian S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.affiliation: Public Heath England North East Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 8NY, UK. mark.lambert2@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambert
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK. r.turner@qub.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Rhiannon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D065187:Controlled Before-After Studies; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom