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Developing and Testing Complex Healthcare Interventions

Learn how to design and deliver randomised controlled trials of healthcare interventions to maximise their effectiveness.

319 enrolled on this course

Developing and Testing Complex Healthcare Interventions

319 enrolled on this course

  • 5 weeks

  • 4 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Introductory level

Find out more about how to join this course

The need for evolution in healthcare

Health systems, patient needs, and government priorities constantly change. It’s important that health services are constantly adapted and revised to meet these. When significant changes are made to service delivery it is vital that they improve patient care, represent value for money to the health system and are safe.

On this five-week course from the University of Bergen, you’ll learn why it is important to fully develop and test any new ideas for service delivery in health (complex interventions) before performing the final definitive trial.

Maximising the likelihood of success

Historically, significant amounts of research money have been wasted on trials of complex healthcare interventions that fail to recruit to target, fail to deliver the intervention effectively, fail to show an effect, or fail to transfer the findings into practice.

This course will guide you through the process of conducting a trial and disseminating your results to maximise your opportunity for success.

Exploring the development and evaluation of complex interventions

Complex interventions can be difficult to design, and ultimately test due to the number of interacting components.

This course, which is aimed at early career researchers, will guide you through the process from idea inception to the final randomised controlled trial, explaining the rationale behind each stage of the process.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions

    • Introduction to the Course

      In this activity, you will find a short introduction to this course, meet the team and a glossary of terms.

    • Evaluation of Complex Interventions - An Overview

      In this activity we will explore several themes including; the need for a framework, what a complex intervention is and how it is developed, feasibility testing and finally, evaluation of complex interventions.

    • Programme Theory

      In this activity, we will explore programme theory and logic models.

    • Summary of Week 1

      In this activity you will have the opportunity to test your understanding of all of the topics covered this week and then view a Week 1 summary.

  • Week 2

    Developing Your Intervention and Selecting Outcome Measures

    • Introduction to Week 2

      In this activity, you will gain an understanding of what will be covered this week in developing your intervention and selecting outcome measures.

    • Selecting the Most Appropriate Outcome Measures

      This activity will explore how the most appropriate outcome measures can be selected using core outcome sets.

    • The Role of Theory and Implementation Science

      In this activity you will gain an understanding of theory and implementation science and how they can be used to understand behaviour and then change behaviour.

    • Using a Nominal Group Technique to facilitate target audience selection of intervention components

      In this activity, you are going to learn about using a consensus methodology with stakeholders to design a new intervention to promote cycling to work for University students and staff.

    • Summary of Week 2

      This activity summarises the learning this week, from selecting the most appropriate outcome measures, identifying the role of theory and implementation science, to using consensus methods to develop an intervention.

  • Week 3

    Feasibility Studies and Process Evaluation

    • Introduction to Week 3

      In this activity, Professor Wright outlines what will be covered this week in feasibility studies and process evaluation.

    • Feasibility Studies

      This activity provides an overview of feasibility studies and the opportunity for you to test your understanding of this topic.

    • Process Evaluation

      This activity provides an overview of process evaluations and the opportunity for you to test your understanding of this topic. You will also be able to identify the steps to implementing a process evaluation framework.

    • Summary of Week 3

      This activity summarises the learning this week, from feasibility studies and process evaluations.

  • Week 4

    Randomised Controlled Trials - Part 1

    • Introduction to Week 4

      In this activity, Professor Wright outlines what will be covered this week in part 1 of randomised controlled trials.

    • Medical Statistics and It’s Role in Clinical Trials

      In this activity we will consider medical statistics, with focus on Ethics in trial design, sample size calculation and statistical analysis plans. We will also explore the role of statisticians and trialists in clinical trials.

    • Health Economics and It’s Role in Clinical Trials

      This activity focusses on health economics with emphasis on the role of the health economist and trialist.

    • Management of Clinical Trials

      In this activity we will describe main components expected within the management of clinical trials to evaluate complex interventions.

    • Summary of Week 4

      You will have an opportunity to review the definitive study paper after learning about statistics, health economics and trial management this week.

  • Week 5

    Randomised Controlled Trials - Part 2

    • Introduction to Week 5

      In this activity, Professor Wright outlines what will be covered this week in part 2 of randomised controlled trials.

    • Trial Protocol

      In this activity we will explore the three elements of trial protocol which include feasibility and pilot studies, definitive trial protocols and safety monitoring.

    • Dissemination

      A key part of a successful randomised controlled trial is the dissemination process which should achieve impact and lead to adoption through implementation strategies and toolkits.

    • Course Summary

      This is the final activity of the course where we will summarise what you should have taken away from this course and provide you with an opportunity to test your learning and understanding.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe the process for complex intervention evaluation and explain the rationale
  • Describe how to design and develop a complex intervention
  • Describe the role of behavioural and implementation science
  • Develop a logic model to underpin a complex intervention
  • Describe how to select the most appropriate outcome measures to evaluate a complex intervention
  • Explain the benefits of involving patients and the public in health services research design and delivery
  • Explain the rationale for undertaking a feasibility study
  • Explain the purpose of process evaluation and how to undertake it
  • Explain the purpose of the inclusion of Health Economics and Statistics
  • Explain the rationale for undertaking a pilot study
  • Describe how to conduct a randomised controlled trial
  • Describe how to perform a process evaluation
  • Describe how to effectively disseminate your study findings
  • Explain the concept of a complex intervention

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for PhD students undertaking Health Services Research, specifically pharmacists and medical practitioners.

Who will you learn with?

Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the School of Pharmacy, University of East Anglia. Research interests include the management of medicines and their administration to patients with dysphagia

I am a Lecturer at the University of East Anglia and a Community Pharmacist. I am the Dysphagia MOOC co-ordinator.

I am a behavioural scientist and my primary research interest is the development and evaluation of complex interventions underpinned by behaviour change theory.

Who developed the course?

University of Bergen

The University of Bergen (UiB) offers first-class education and cutting-edge research at our location in the city centre of Bergen, Norway.

In collaboration with

UEA - University of East Anglia logo

Endorsers and supporters

funded by

NFIF Logo

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$349.99 for one year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$134/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 29 May 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

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