Abstract
Background
Informing policy and practice with up-to-date evidence on the social determinants of health is an ongoing challenge. One limitation of traditional approaches is the time-lag between identification of a policy or practice need and availability of results. The Right Here Right Now (RHRN) study piloted a near-real-time data-collection process to investigate whether this gap could be bridged.
Methods
A website was developed to facilitate the issue of questions, data capture and presentation of findings. Respondents were recruited using two distinct methods - a clustered random probability sample, and a quota sample from street stalls. Weekly four-part questions were issued by email, Short Messaging Service (SMS or text) or post. Quantitative data were descriptively summarised, qualitative data thematically analysed, and a summary report circulated two weeks after each question was issued. The pilot spanned 26 weeks.
Results
It proved possible to recruit and retain a panel of respondents providing quantitative and qualitative data on a range of issues. The samples were subject to similar recruitment and response biases as more traditional data-collection approaches. Participants valued the potential to influence change, and stakeholders were enthusiastic about the findings generated, despite reservations about the lack of sample representativeness. Stakeholders acknowledged that decision-making processes are not flexible enough to respond to weekly evidence.
Conclusion
RHRN produced a process for collecting near-real-time data for policy-relevant topics, although obtaining and maintaining representative samples was problematic. Adaptations were identified to inform a more sustainable model of near-real-time data collection and dissemination in the future.
Key messages
RHRN aimed to capture people’s everyday experiences to provide timely insights for policy-makers.
It proved feasible to run a multi-mode weekly data-collection process to inform decision-makers.
Difficulties recruiting a representative sample limited the utility of the quantitative data.
Decision-making processes were not flexible enough to respond to rapid weekly evidence generation.
Informing policy and practice with up-to-date evidence on the social determinants of health is an ongoing challenge. One limitation of traditional approaches is the time-lag between identification of a policy or practice need and availability of results. The Right Here Right Now (RHRN) study piloted a near-real-time data-collection process to investigate whether this gap could be bridged.
Methods
A website was developed to facilitate the issue of questions, data capture and presentation of findings. Respondents were recruited using two distinct methods - a clustered random probability sample, and a quota sample from street stalls. Weekly four-part questions were issued by email, Short Messaging Service (SMS or text) or post. Quantitative data were descriptively summarised, qualitative data thematically analysed, and a summary report circulated two weeks after each question was issued. The pilot spanned 26 weeks.
Results
It proved possible to recruit and retain a panel of respondents providing quantitative and qualitative data on a range of issues. The samples were subject to similar recruitment and response biases as more traditional data-collection approaches. Participants valued the potential to influence change, and stakeholders were enthusiastic about the findings generated, despite reservations about the lack of sample representativeness. Stakeholders acknowledged that decision-making processes are not flexible enough to respond to weekly evidence.
Conclusion
RHRN produced a process for collecting near-real-time data for policy-relevant topics, although obtaining and maintaining representative samples was problematic. Adaptations were identified to inform a more sustainable model of near-real-time data collection and dissemination in the future.
Key messages
RHRN aimed to capture people’s everyday experiences to provide timely insights for policy-makers.
It proved feasible to run a multi-mode weekly data-collection process to inform decision-makers.
Difficulties recruiting a representative sample limited the utility of the quantitative data.
Decision-making processes were not flexible enough to respond to rapid weekly evidence generation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 301-321 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Evidence & Policy |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 18 Jul 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 31 May 2018 |
Keywords
- Evidence
- Policy
- Real-time
- Technology
