Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team: PHIRST LiLaC

LiLaC comprises researchers from Liverpool and Lancaster universities, collaborating with Directors of Public Health and members of the public, ready to deliver a Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team (PHIRST). We develop and evaluate public health policies/interventions and participate extensively in responsive evaluation schemes supporting local government.

This includes NIHR School for Public Health Research’s (SPHR) Public Health Practice Evaluation Scheme (PHPES), the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) (formerly CLAHRC) NW Coast partner priority programme, and rapid responses to Covid-19, including two national pilots embedded in local government. Our inter-disciplinary approach combines state-of-the art quasi-experimental methods, utilising our unique data platforms (e.g. www.cipha.nhs.uk, https://pldr.org ), with in-depth qualitative approaches to assess the health inequality impacts of natural experiments and illuminate pathways to impact.

Our approach to evaluation is underpinned by co-production and public involvement, with health equity embedded throughout the research process. Each of our PHIRST evaluations will follow a structured process co-produced with local authorities and the public.

First, an evaluability assessment will: review current evidence to determine the need for evaluation; develop actionable research questions; assess potential public health and inequalities impacts and consider practicalities such as data access/quality. This stage will define the next steps with the local authority, public advisers and PHR secretariat.

Second, a project evaluation group will be established to develop the research protocol and oversee the evaluation. A LiLaC researcher will lead this group and integrate inputs from our extensive research networks with representatives from the participating local authority. Members of the public will also be involved in the project team, recruited where possible from settings and localities where the local authority intervention is delivered.

The research methods applied could include combinations of process, outcome and economic evaluation utilising experimental, quasi-experimental, observational and qualitative methods, depending on the overall evaluation purpose, time and resource constraints. Where feasible, local people will be trained as community researchers and academic researchers will be embedded within local government to contribute to the research.

Third, our evaluation delivery process will enable us to adapt research to local needs in collaboration with local partners, whilst producing robust findings. Learning will be rapidly applied as it emerges to improve local and national delivery. Our expertise in knowledge mobilisation will ensure that actionable recommendations are tailored for relevant audiences, delivered through appropriate channels and networks for maximum impact.

People with lived experience and practitioners will be involved in developing outputs to ensure these reflect the concerns and priorities of these groups.

Finally, we will maximise opportunities for local government research capacity building during the study timeframe and beyond, within the budget available, proactively linking local authority partners to other resources within our ARC and SPHR networks.