Introduction
The aim of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is to ensure that high quality research information on the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests are produced in the most efficient way for those who plan, provide or receive care from NHS and social care services. The commissioned workstream invites applications in response to calls for research on specific questions which have been identified and prioritised for their importance to the NHS, patients and social care.
Research question
This is a brief of broader scope from which the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is interested in potentially funding more than one proposal.
Overview
The HTA Programme is interested in proposals, including for stand alone pilot or feasibility studies, for the evaluation of interventions to reduce the incidence and severity of hospital-based medication administration errors. Applications would be welcomed seeking to evaluate interventions which are already used routinely in practice, but with limited evidence of effectiveness (i.e. those which propose potentially stopping such practices). In addition, applications which aim to evaluate new, adapted or alternative interventions, which should already have some evidence to show that they may be effective will also be considered.
Rationale
Medication is the most widely used medical intervention and medication safety continues to present a serious challenge in hospitals. While serious errors are very rare the volume of patients and medication administrations involved makes this an ongoing issue of concern with significant implications for patient welfare, resource use and risk of litigation.
Processing medications involves multiple steps and individuals. Medication errors can occur during different stages, with a potentially high frequency occurring during administration. While prescribing and dispensing errors can be intercepted as a medication order proceeds towards patient administration, steps to reduce errors during administration are especially critical as it is the final step before a patient receives a drug. While a variety of such practices and interventions are routinely used the evidence base for many of these is significantly lacking.
Some interventions are technology based, for example but not limited to, barcode scanning, alert systems, electronic pharmacy systems and smart pumps, while others are more related directly to human factors, for example having dedicated staff, addressing distractions and interruptions, and double checking.
As such, the NIHR seeks applications, within the remit of the HTA Programme, to determine the effectiveness of interventions to reduce medicine administration errors in the hospital setting. Interventions should be reproducible and generalisable. This includes evaluation of currently routinely used practices which may not actually be effective. Studies that are based in normal clinical practice rather than in artificially controlled conditions are expected.
Applications focussing on staff organisation and training may be more relevant to the Health and Social Care Delivery Programme (HSDR).
To support the ambitions of NIHR’s Best Research for Best Health: the next chapter, NIHR strongly encourages the inclusion of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals within well-developed research teams responding to this call, to increase the building of nurse, midwife and allied health professional-related research activity, capacity and capability across the professions. Depending on the level of experience, this could be through the role of lead applicant, as joint co-applicant (supported by detailed mentoring plans submitted with the application), or as a co-applicant member of the research team. Through this activity, NIHR aims to support nurses, midwives and allied health professionals to become future research leaders and release the potential to lead, use, deliver and participate in research as a part of their job.
Additional commissioning brief background information
A background document is available that provides further information to support applicants for this call. It is intended to summarise what prompted the call and the existing evidence base, including relevant work from the HTA and wider NIHR research portfolio. It was researched and written on the basis of information from a search of relevant sources and databases, and in consultation with a number of experts in the field. If you would like a copy please email htaresearchers@nihr.ac.uk.
Making an application
If you wish to submit a Stage 1 application for this call, the online application form can be found on the funding opportunities page. To select this call, use the filters on the right of the screen or search using the call name and/or number.
Your application must be submitted online no later than 1pm, 29 November 2023. Applications will be considered by the HTA Funding Committee at its meeting in January 2024.
Guidance notes and supporting information for HTA Programme applications are available.
Important: Shortlisted Stage 1 applicants will be given 8 weeks to submit a Stage 2 application. The Stage 2 application will be considered at the Funding Committee in May 2024. Applications received electronically after 1pm on the due date will not be considered.
For commissioned topics, the Programme strongly discourages the practice of the same Co-Applicant joining more than 1 competing team. There may be unusual circumstances where the same person could be included on more than 1 application, e.g. a Lead from a named charity or a unique national expert in a condition.
For such exceptions, (i) each application needs to state the case as to why the same person is included, (ii) the shared Co-Applicant should not divulge application details between teams and (iii) both teams should acknowledge in their application that they are aware that one of their Co-Applicants is part of a competing application and that study details have not been shared.
Should you have any queries please contact us: htacommissioning@nihr.ac.uk.