Developing and evaluating complex interventions: the new Medical Research Council guidance

Craig, P., Dieppe, P., Macintyre, S., Michie, S., Nazareth, I. and Petticrew, M. (2008) Developing and evaluating complex interventions: the new Medical Research Council guidance. British Medical Journal, 337, pp. 979-983. (doi: 10.1136/bmj.a1655)

Abstract

<p><i>Evaluating complex interventions is complicated. The Medical Research Council's evaluation framework (2000) brought welcome clarity to the task. Now the council has updated its guidance</i></p> <p>Complex interventions are widely used in the health service, in public health practice, and in areas of social policy that have important health consequences, such as education, transport, and housing. They present various problems for evaluators, in addition to the practical and methodological difficulties that any successful evaluation must overcome. In 2000, the Medical Research Council (MRC) published a framework¹ to help researchers and research funders to recognise and adopt appropriate methods. The framework has been highly influential, and the accompanying BMJ paper is widely cited.² However, much valuable experience has since accumulated of both conventional and more innovative methods. This has now been incorporated in comprehensively revised and updated guidance recently released by the MRC (<a href="www.mrc.ac.uk/complexinterventionsguidance">www.mrc.ac.uk/complexinterventionsguidance</a>). In this article we summarise the issues that prompted the revision and the key messages of the new guidance. </p>

• Item Type: Articles (Other)
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Craig, Professor Peter and Macintyre, Professor Sally
• Authors: Craig, P., Dieppe, P., Macintyre, S., Michie, S., Nazareth, I., and Petticrew, M.
• Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Centre for Population and Health Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing
• Journal Name: British Medical Journal
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• ISSN: 0959-535X
• ISSN (Online): 1468-5833
• Published Online: 01 September 2008
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2010 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
• First Published: First published in BMJ 337:979-983
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.