Abstract
BackgroundPrioritisation processes are widely used in healthcare research and increasingly in social care research. Previous research has recommended using consensus development methods for inclusive research agenda setting. This research has highlighted the need for transparent and systematic methods for priority setting. Yet there has been little research on how to conduct prioritisation processes using rapid methods. This is a particular concern when prioritisation needs to happen rapidly. This paper aims to describe and discuss a process of rapidly identifying and prioritising a shortlist of innovations for rapid evaluation applied in the field of adult social care and social work.MethodWe adapted the James Lind Alliance approach to priority setting for rapid use. We followed four stages: (1) Identified a long list of innovations, (2) Developed shortlisting criteria, (3) Grouped and sifted innovations, and (4) Prioritised innovations in a multi-stakeholder workshop (n = 23). Project initiation through to completion of the final report took four months.ResultsTwenty innovations were included in the final shortlist (out of 158 suggested innovations). The top five innovations for evaluation were identified and findings highlighted key themes which influenced prioritisation. The top five priorities (listed here in alphabetical order) were: Care coordination for dementia in the community, family group conferencing, Greenwich prisons social care, local area coordination and MySense.Ai. Feedback from workshop participants (n = 15) highlighted tensions from using a rapid process (e.g. challenges of reaching consensus in one workshop).ConclusionThe method outlined in this manuscript can be used to rapidly prioritise innovations for evaluation in a feasible and robust way. We outline some implications and compromises of rapid prioritisation processes for future users of this approach to consider.
Highlights
Prioritisation processes are widely used in healthcare research and increasingly in social care research.Previous research has recommended using consensus development methods for inclusive research agenda setting.This research has highlighted the need for transparent and systematic methods for priority setting
The method outlined in this manuscript can be used to rapidly prioritise innovations for evaluation in a feasible and robust way
The majority of innovations that have been piloted and implemented in adult social care and social work in England are mostly small in scale and/or inconsistently implemented [2]
Summary
Prioritisation processes are widely used in healthcare research and increasingly in social care research.Previous research has recommended using consensus development methods for inclusive research agenda setting.This research has highlighted the need for transparent and systematic methods for priority setting. This paper aims to describe and discuss a process of rapidly identifying and prioritising a shortlist of innovations for rapid evaluation applied in the field of adult social care and social work. This paper describes and discusses a process developed for rapidly identifying and prioritising a shortlist of innovations for rapid evaluation, while engaging with a Department of Applied Health Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. Rapid prioritisation is relevant wherever a balance of speed and rigour is sought to enable rapid evidence creation to guide resourcing decisions [1] We applied this process to adult social care and social work innovations. (2021) 19:34 social care broadly, e.g. new models of care, service innovations, payment and commissioning innovations, person and community-centred approaches to innovations and technological innovations This approach was undertaken in respect of England but is relevant anywhere. Given the large number of innovations that could be evaluated, it is necessary to prioritise where to focus limited resources that are available to undertake evaluations
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