Lifecycle of a research project 2: designing and planning the study

This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

In this article…

• Rationale and design of the Creating Learning Environments for Compassionate Care study

• Basic principles of randomised controlled trials

• Methods of measuring research outcomes

Author Jackie Bridges is professor of older people’s care at the University of Southampton.

Abstract The Creating Learning Environments for Compassionate Care programme aims to foster a culture of compassionate care among hospital nursing teams working in inpatient settings for older people. It was one of five research projects commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research in the wake of the Francis report to investigate ways of designing services that provide dignified and compassionate care. This article explains the background to, rationale for and design of the study. It is the second article in a six-part series on the lifecycle of a research project, which aims to explain how large research studies happen and how they influence practice.

Citation Bridges J (2019) Lifecycle of a research project 2: designing and planning the study. Nursing Times; 115: 2, 45-47.

Key points

When studying practice developments, researchers need to explore feasibility, impact and value for money

A randomised controlled trial has a control arm, which allows the impact of an intervention to be assessed

The Creating Learning Environments for Compassionate Care programme aims to foster a culture of compassionate care among nursing staff