Table 1.
What works well in health services research
| Theme | Total across areas n | Research ethics n | Research governance n | Information governance n | Key quotations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National co-ordinated system in place | 118 | 56 | 46 | 16 | One system to access information on all approval forms and submit applications … is good (RE) |
| Robust | 58 | 24 | 22 | 12 | The external assurance granted that research has been thoroughly assessed and deemed legal and ethical should not be underestimated (IG) |
| Helpful, friendly, supportive staff | 59 | 14 | 30 | 15 | Individuals handing the applications tend to be helpful and supportive (RG) |
| Clarity | 50 | 20 | 19 | 11 | The quick HRA check about whether ethical approvals are required (RE) |
| Speed/ timeliness | 28 | 22 | 6 | - | There is a timely response once the application is submitted (RE) |
| Online/ virtual process | 22 | 22 | - | - | Thorough online systems accessible from home, by different project members (RE) |
| Availability of guidance | 15 | 7 | - | 8 | The guidance and support has been clarified to a much better standard recently (IG) |
| Proportionate review | 15 | 15 | - | - | Having a fast-track system for low-risk research is helpful, except that the bar is far too high (RE) |
| Feedback strengthening study | 14 | 14 | - | - | Feedback from ethics committees can be very helpful in shaping/refining/improving projects (RE) |
| Good local relationships | 12 | - | 12 | - | I know the people I need to work with (RG) |
| Availability/ choice of RECs | 10 | 10 | - | - | Online booking systems; seeing REC meeting dates online (RE) |
| Gives confidence standards met | 9 | 9 | - | - | It acts as a safeguard for vulnerable people (RE) |
| Consistency | 8 | 8 | - | - | It applies a ‘yardstick’ across all studies, ensuring uniformity and consistency which is important (RE) |
| Low burden on service providers | 8 | - | 8 | - | Lower administrative burden for Trusts. HRA approval letter provides clear instruction for Trust (RG) |
| Sponsor support | 7 | - | 7 | - | We have a great research department who are all well versed in research - academic, healthcare, government and commercial (RG) |
| Improved | 6 | 6 | - | - | Speed of panels/committees much quicker than before (RE) |
| Data availability | 6 | - | - | 6 | Data coverage is continually improving (IG) |
| User friendly system | 6 | - | - | 6 | Regional systems have streamlined governance and it is possible to amend applications to ask for additional years of data without going back to the start (IG) |
| Simple quick process for amendments | 5 | 5 | - | - | Simple amendment system to add additional sites etc. (RE) |
| Responsive | 5 | - | 5 | - | HRA are generally quick to respond and approve low risk studies (RG) |
Abbreviations: RE - Research Ethics, RG – Research Governance, IG - Information Governance.