Table 2.

Summary of the DECIDE guide

Purpose: Support the use of evidence in decision-making about innovation by providers and commissioners of care. Format: The guidance is a free-to-download PDF with interactive features (users can click to open boxes with case study examples and to navigate between different sections of the guide). It is organised around six key themes, and questions for decision-makers, using the visual metaphor of the ‘long and winding road’ of decision-making on introducing innovations: • Definition - can the innovation and its potential impact be clearly described? • Evidence - what evidence is available in relation to the innovation? • Stakeholders - who will be involved in decisions and how? • Drivers - what are the key external and internal drivers for introducing innovation? • Organisation - what organisational factors should be considered during decision-making? • Implementation- can likely barriers and enablers to implementation be anticipated early in decision-making? Examples from three qualitative case studies of ‘real-world’ decision-making on innovation undertaken during the DECIDE study (stroke reconfiguration, ‘virtual’ clinics for glaucoma outpatients, and national guidance on referral for suspected cancer) were used to illustrate the themes throughout the guide. The key questions are repeated in a summary ‘checklist’ at the end of the guide, designed for users to review whether they have considered each question in their decision-making. Evidence: The final guide produced was informed by a consultative, rather than co-design, approach with potential end-users of the guidance. The steps involved in developing the guidance included: (1) scoping interviews to identify decision-makers´ needs; (2) reviewing related guidance; (3) summarising key study findings, including a published systematic scoping review, [34], and assessing their practical implications for decision-making practice; (4) stakeholder feedback on content, style, and usability of guidance iterations through interviews (nine) and group workshop (32 attendees); and (5) consulting a design agency who developed an interactive PDF design in response to our requirements. Multiple iterations of the guidance were produced in response to stakeholder feedback. Availability: The guidance is freely available to download from: https://www.ihpo.manchester.ac.uk/research/projects/decide/decide-guidance/