Introduction
The aim of the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme is to ensure that high quality research information on the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests are produced in the most efficient way for those who plan, provide or receive care from NHS and social care services. The commissioned workstream invites applications in response to calls for research on specific questions which have been identified and prioritised for their importance to the NHS, patients and social care.
This is a brief of broader scope from which the programme is interested in potentially funding more than one proposal to address different research questions.
The HTA Programme is inviting applications for studies which evaluate digital technology enabled interventions in social care. In 2022, the HTA programme launched an Application Acceleration funding opportunity to support the development of applications in this area. The applications developed through these awards should be submitted to this call. This call is also open to applications for other studies which did not receive or apply for Acceleration funding.
The HTA Programme is interested in proposals for the evaluation of a wide range of digital technologies for social care across both children and adult services, including, but not limited to:
- digital applications for promoting behaviour change to prevent deterioration of a specific long-term condition or improve general wellbeing
- technologies designed to improve the personal safety and/or well-being of people who draw on care and support services and carers, e.g. technologies aimed at preventing falls or alerting carers to a fall, geographical positioning systems (GPS), home monitoring systems
- digital memory aids, e.g. technologies to support the following advice or guidance from health and social care practitioners and/or organising social care related aspects of their lives
- digital interventions for loneliness or social isolation
- remote assessments (or other care planning processes) (child development, occupational, etc.)
- enablers of the adoption of digital technologies by citizens and their support networks, such as tools aimed at improving digital literacy and preventing digital exclusion among specific populations
- robotics for assisting simple tasks such as cognitive assistive robots, socially assistive robots
Digital technologies include a broad range of both hardware and electronic devices, such as smart watches; software, such as mobile applications, and internet delivered services such as online support groups
Applicants should clearly define and justify the specific population of interest, study design and outcome measures. In defining these, they should ensure a strong emphasis on social care outcomes, as well as appropriate balance between considerations primarily affecting the users of assistive technologies (including people with lived experience and their support networks) such as ease of use, psychosocial wellbeing or requirements around privacy, and the implementation and economic factors of concern to local authorities and other social care organisations.
Applicants should also explain how the research will fit into the remit of the HTA Programme. Epidemiology or exploratory studies are not eligible for the HTA programme but primary research, including randomised and observational studies, and evidence syntheses will be considered.
Proposals will be expected to include strong Public Patient Involvement (including carers) within the study, plus social care practitioners.
Clear consideration of equality, diversity and inclusion issues are required.
Background information for potential applicants
Digital technologies comprise products and services that enhance the safety and quality of life of individuals. Digital technology has the potential to make a step-change within social care. When technology is embedded appropriately into care and support it can be transformative, improving people’s quality of life and provide support to care staff in providing the right care in the right place at the right time.
The call is broad, and applicants will need to detail the evidence to support their chosen intervention.
There is an important need to improve the evidence base that underpins digital social care interventions. As such, the HTA Programme wishes to commission a broad call in this area and welcome a range of submissions. Studies must aim to address an effectiveness question which has the potential to have a significant impact on care.
Rationale
Digital technologies comprise products and services that enhance the safety and quality of life of individuals. Digital technology has the potential to make a step-change within social care. When technology is embedded appropriately into care and support it can be transformative, improving people’s quality of life and provide support to care staff in providing the right care in the right place at the right time.
The call is broad, and applicants will need to detail the evidence to support their chosen intervention.
There is an important need to improve the evidence base that underpins digital social care interventions. As such, the HTA wishes to commission a broad call in this area and welcome a range of submissions. Studies must aim to address an effectiveness question which has the potential to have a significant impact on care.
Additional information
Applicants should note that CTUs in the following list are ready to support social care research:
- Bristol Clinical Trials Unit
- Keele Clinical Trials Unit
- LSHTM Clinical Trials Unit
- Norwich Clinical rials Unit
- Nottingham Clinical Trials Unit
- Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit
- Priment Clinical Trials Unit – UCL
- Sheffield Clinical Trials unit
- Warwick Clinical Trials Unit
Others may also be willing to help but have not let us know.
Intervention funding
Applicants may find our guidance on securing intervention funding useful.
Making an application
If you would like to apply for this funding opportunity, you can begin your application via the Funding opportunities page.
Your application must be submitted online no later than 1pm, 24 July 2024. Applications will be considered by the HTA Funding Committee at its meeting in September 2024.
Guidance notes and supporting information for HTA Programme applications are available.
Shortlisted Stage 1 applicants will be given 8 weeks to submit a Stage 2 application. The Stage 2 application will be considered at the Funding Committee in January 2025.
Applications received electronically after 1pm on the due date will not be considered.
For commissioned topics, the Programme strongly discourages the practice of the same co-applicant joining more than one competing team. There may be unusual circumstances where the same person could be included on more than on application eg. a lead from a named charity or a unique national expert in a condition.
For such exceptions, each application needs to state the case as to why the same person is included. The shared co-applicant should not divulge application details between teams, and both teams should acknowledge in their application that they are aware of the situation, and that study details have not been shared.
Should you have any queries please contact us via email: htacommissioning@nihr.ac.uk.
