The rapid research aims to answer key questions from the local health and care system, such as how to manage patients with dementia who 'walk with purpose and intent', how to monitor COVID-19 symptoms remotely and the potential impact of COVID-19 on mental health.
Researchers are reviewing the available evidence and offering topic and methodological expertise to help NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and local authority public health departments plan how to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CCGs, local authorities and other organisations in the health and care system on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic are generating these urgent requests for evidence. The organisations are from across ARC West's geography. The rapid evidence reviews are published on the ARC West website so that they are available nationally and internationally for others to use in planning their response to COVID-19. The Department of Health and Social Care has also been using these rapid reviews to aid the UK Government’s response to COVID-19.
The idea for the rapid research service came about early in the crisis. Dr Jeremy Horwood, an ARC West team lead and an Associate Professor at the University of Bristol, was approached by Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG (BNSSG CCG). They wanted researchers to do rapid evidence reviews and analysis of routine data to help inform decision-making and to support their strategic response to COVID-19.
Working with ARC Manager Lara Edwards and the ARC West admin team, a pool of over 70 researchers from across the University of Bristol was quickly assembled to respond to requests for help. The researchers are from more than 12 research centres and the local NIHR infrastructure. The opportunity to volunteer was then extended to researchers from the Universities of Bath and the West of England. The service also draws on expertise from other Applied Research Collaborations in other parts of the country.
Dr Horwood said: “The rapid spread of COVID-19 has meant that the NHS and local authorities have had to quickly adapt their services. To enable them to do this, it is vital that they have access to the best evidence, including from other countries that have successfully responded to the pandemic.
"It's fantastic that so many researchers from UWE, University of Bristol and the University of Bath have signed up to help with rapid evidence and evaluation support to help inform the local, national and international COVID-19 response."
Dr Peter Brindle, Medical Director at BNSSG CCG, added: “These rapid reviews are just one example of how the academic community has rallied to support the health and care system in the COVID-19 crisis. It is incredible how responsive university colleagues have been in providing evidence and evaluation support.
"We in the health and care system are incredibly grateful for these ongoing efforts. I am sure these fruitful collaborations will last way beyond COVID."
The research teams who have responded to the call include:
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West), Universities of Bristol, Bath and the West of England
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Bristol BRC), University of Bristol
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, University of Bristol
- Bristol Trials Centre (BTC), University of Bristol
- Bristol Appraisal and Review of Research Group (BARR), University of Bristol
- Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC), University of Bristol
- Centre for Academic Mental Health (CAMH), University of Bristol
- Centre for Health and Clinical Research, University of the West of England
- Centre for Healthcare Innovation and Improvement, University of Bath
- Centre for Motivation and Health Behaviour Change, University of Bath
- Centre for Public Health and Well Being, University of the West of England
- Centre for Research in Health and Social Care, University of Bristol
- Departments of Psychology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, and Department for Health, University of Bath
- Elizabeth Blackwell Institute (EBI), University of Bristol
- Health Economics Bristol (HEB), University of Bristol
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (IEU), University of Bristol
- Multi-parameter Evidence Synthesis Research Group (MPES), University of Bristol