Glossary

A research paper or article published in an academic journal.

Information where an individual’s identity cannot be identified.

Research designed to help solve real-world problems and improve health and care.

A partnership of researchers, communities and health and care organisations working together to improve health and care services through applied research.

The NIHR Applied Research Collaboration covering the South West, bringing together researchers, health and care organisations and communities.

Agreeing to take part in research by someone who cannot legally give formal informed consent, such as a child or a person with a severe cognitive disability.

Developing people’s skills, knowledge and confidence so they can take part in or carry out research and improvement work.

Someone who provides unpaid/paid care or support to another person, usually a friend, family member or neighbour.

Developing something together with the people who will use it or are affected by it.

An organisation or person responsible for planning and arranging health and care services for a population.

Having two or more health conditions at the same time.

Keeping people’s personal information private and only using or sharing it appropriately.

Comparing the costs of something with the benefits it produces to help determine whether it represents good value.

Information collected during research, such as answers to questions, measurements or records.

Looking at and interpreting the information collected during research.

Sharing research findings with other people, organisations or communities.

Formal approval that a research study meets the required ethical standards before it begins.

A process of finding out whether a programme, service or intervention has worked and what difference it has made.

Information from research and other reliable sources to help understand what works.

Bringing together the findings from several research studies to understand what they collectively tell us.

Using the best available research evidence to help make decisions about care or services.

A state where someone’s health and ability to cope with illness or other challenges have become more vulnerable.

Money provided to support a research project or programme.

Services that support people’s health and wellbeing, including the NHS, social care and community services.

Research into the costs and benefits of different treatments, services or approaches.

Making sure everyone has a fair opportunity to achieve good health and recognising that different people may need different support.

Differences in people’s health that are often linked to factors such as where they live, income, education or access to services.

Organisations that help health and care services use new ideas, health technologies, medical devices and evidence to improve care.

The difference that research makes to people’s lives, services, policy or practice.

Putting research findings, treatments or approaches into everyday practice.

Research into how we can successfully put evidence and new approaches into everyday health and care.

Research designed to involve and benefit people from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances.

Agreeing to take part in research after being given enough information to understand what participation involves.

Different health and care services working together to provide more coordinated support.

An organisation responsible for planning health services across a local area in England.

An action introduced or provided to try to improve health or change an outcome.

How closely an intervention is delivered in the way it was originally designed. (An example here/explaination may help understanding – i.e. why is this important?)

A publication containing research papers and other academic articles.

Someone who helps connect research and evidence with the people and organisations who can use it.

Sharing and using research knowledge so that it can influence decisions, services and practice.

Knowledge gained through someone’s own personal experience of a health condition, service or situation.

A health condition that usually lasts for a long time and may need ongoing management.

The overall approach used to design and carry out research.

Research that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Different NHS organisations or teams working together towards a shared goal.

An organisation that provides NHS services, such as hospitals, mental health services or community care.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research, which funds and supports health and care research in England.

Using data, mathematics and analytical methods to help organisations make better decisions and use resources effectively.

A change or result measured in a research study, such as someone’s health, wellbeing or quality of life.

Involving patients and members of the public in research. For instance, involving them in how a study is designed.

Involving and engaging patients, carers, service users and members of the public in research.

A questionnaire or measure completed by a patient about their own health, symptoms or quality of life.

A process where other experts assess research before it is published or funded.

The health of a whole group or population and the factors that affect it.

Actions that aim to stop illness or health problems happening or reduce their impact.

Looking at how an intervention was delivered and what happened while it was being implemented.

Work that aims to improve and protect the health of whole communities and populations, rather than only focusing on individual patients.

Research that explores people’s experiences, views and perspectives, often through interviews or focus groups.

A structured approach to making health and care services better.

Research that collects and analyses numerical information, such as measurements, survey results or statistics.

A study where people are randomly placed into different groups so researchers can compare treatments or approaches fairly.

A structured way of finding out new information or to answer a question.

Principles and rules that help ensure research is carried out responsibly and that it protects the people involved.

What researchers discovered through their study.

The changes or benefits that happen because of research.

Making sure people from different backgrounds and communities have opportunities to take part in and benefit from research.

The approaches and techniques researchers use to carry out a study.

Someone who takes part in a research study.

Another term for a specific piece of research.

A detailed plan explaining how a research study will be carried out.

The specific question that researchers are trying to answer.

A planned piece of research designed to answer a particular question.

The group of people working together to carry out a research project.

A broad area that brings together related research projects and expertise.

Turning research findings into something that can be used in practice, policy or services.

Someone who carries out research to answer a question or investigate an issue.

Making changes to health or care services to make them work better for patients, staff or communities.

People who use or receive health, social care or other support services.

A person or organisation with an interest in a research project or service.

A structured search for and assessment of all relevant research on a particular question.

Groups of people who may experience poorer access to health and care services or research opportunities.

Training and supporting health and care staff to develop their knowledge and skills.