NHS Trusts' clinical research activity and overall CQC performance - Is there a correlation?
OBJECTIVE
Since the late 2000's, the creation of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has transformed clinical research activity in the United Kingdom. This study sought to establish if there is a link between clinical research activity and overall NHS Trust performance.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study.


METHODS
Data for NHS Trust performance were obtained from public databases, namely the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 2013 risk rating for overall performance, and 2012-13 NIHR records for clinical research activity.


RESULTS
Applying Spearman's rank analysis, none of the Trust categories showed a correlation with CQC risk rating: small hospitals, r = -0.062 (P = 0.76; n = 27); medium, r = -0.224 (P = 0.13; n = 47); large, r = -0.008 (P = 0.96; n = 57); academic, r = -0.18 (P = 0.41; n = 24). Similar results were observed when CQC risk rating was compared with the number of different clinical research studies conducted per Trust.


CONCLUSIONS
The degree of NIHR National Portfolio clinical research activity is not significantly related to CQC risk rating, used as an indicator of overall NHS Trust performance. Other studies have previously shown that increased research activity correlates with improved mortality rates, one component of CQC risk rating scores. Alternative tools may have to be explored to evaluate the impact of clinical research on NHS Trusts and its patients.
University of Cumbria, Cumberland Infirmary, Newtown Road, Carlisle, CA2 7HY, United Kingdom. Electronic address: leon.jonker@yahoo.co.uk.
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Jonker
Out-Of-Hours GP, Cumbria Health On-Call, London Road, Carlisle, CA1 2NS, United Kingdom. Electronic address: drstaceyfisher@yahoo.co.uk.
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Fisher
D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
Care Quality Commission (CQC); Clinical research; Clinical trial; Hospital standardized mortality ratio (HSMR); NHS Trusts; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)