Abstract
We argue that major health and social care policy initiatives are not too complex for randomised controlled trial (RCT) methodology and illustrate this using the example of the Best Services Trial (BeST?): a RCT of an infant mental health intervention for maltreated children. We suggest that qualitative research, as a core part of the trial process from conception and development through to implementation and evaluation, is crucial in building, understanding and strengthening the partnership required to drive such a complex trial. Data pertinent to trial implementation demonstrate the iterative nature of the process whereby stakeholders are consulted and their views influence the conduct of the trial. Here we reflect on the bi‐directional relationship between qualitative data collection and partnership‐working in a trial. For very complex trials to be possible, significant resource needs to be available for the qualitative component.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 381-387 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | International Journal of Social Welfare |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 19 Jul 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 2018 |
Keywords
- partnership
- complex interventions
- randomised controlled trial
- qualitative research
- maltreated children
Access to Document
- Accepted Manuscript
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article:Turner‐Halliday, F. , Welch, V. , Bryce, G. , Forde, M. , Cotmore, R. , Wilson, P. , Fitzpatrick, B. , Watson, N. and Minnis, H. (2018), Partnership approaches to the evaluation of complex policy initiatives: Qualitative research as key to building effective relationships. International Journal of Social Welfare, 27: 381-387. , which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/ijsw.12326. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.