Right Here Right Now (RHRN) pilot study: testing a method of near-real-time data collection on the social determinants of health

Naven, L. et al. (2018) Right Here Right Now (RHRN) pilot study: testing a method of near-real-time data collection on the social determinants of health. Evidence and Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice, 14(2), pp. 301-321. (doi: 10.1332/174426417X14987303892451) (PMID:29973958) (PMCID:PMC6027954)

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.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Egan, Mr James and Stewart, Miss Sally and Phipps, Miss Rebecca and Teal, Miss Gemma and Harris, Dr Rachel and Walsh, Dr David and Smith, Ms Madeline and McCartney, Professor Gerard and Naven, Ms Lynn and Fergie, Dr Gillian and Inglis, Mr Greig and Hilton, Professor Shona and Tolan, Mr Matthew and Kelly, Ms Lorna
• Authors: Naven, L., Inglis, G., Harris, R., Fergie, G., Teal, G., Phipps, R., Stewart, S., Kelly, L., Hilton, S., Smith, M., McCartney, G., Walsh, D., Tolan, M., and Egan, J.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health; College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
• Journal Name: Evidence and Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice
• Publisher: The Policy Press
• ISSN: 1744-2648
• ISSN (Online): 1744-2656
• Published Online: 18 July 2017
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 The Policy Press
• First Published: First published in Evidence and Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice 14(2): 301-321
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
72767	1	Informing Healthy Public Policy	Peter Craig	Medical Research Council (MRC)	MC_UU_12017/15	HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit