Table 2 Categories and sub-categories of impact and frequency identified within all 46 case studies
From: Evidencing the impact of cancer trials: insights from the 2014 UK Research Excellence Framework
Category/sub-categorya | Case study references for this sub-category (number) | Case study references for this sub-category (percentage) |
|---|---|---|
1. New knowledge and immediate research outputs | 39 | 85% |
1.1 New knowledge generated directly from clinical trial | 38 | 83% |
1.2 New knowledge from clinical trial has contributed to a secondary analysis, e.g. systematic review or meta-analysis | 3 | 7% |
2. Capacity-building for future research | 24 | 52% |
2.1 Clinical trial has contributed to the development (or intentional ceasing of the development) of further research, clinical trials and researchers | 19 | 41% |
2.2 Clinical trial has led to collaboration and/or data sharing | 3 | 7% |
2.3 Clinical trial has led to training of future clinicians and researchers | 5 | 11% |
2.4 Clinical trial has led to innovation and novel infrastructure (other than health-service related), e.g. the development of a novel technique or tool by a commercial company | 4 | 9% |
3. Policy and guidelines | 43 | 93% |
3.1 Clinical trial has influence policy agenda setting | 7 | 15% |
3.2 Clinical trial has led to a treatment approvals (e.g. drug, device, procedure licensing or marketing approval) | 15 | 33% |
3.3 Clinical trial contributed to clinical guidelines | 39 | 85% |
3.4 Clinical trial contributed to other public policy, e.g. government policy | 6 | 13% |
3.5 Clinical trial has provided justification of the implementation of existing policy | 4 | 9% |
4. Health sector (Health service) | 16 | 35% |
4.1 Clinical trial has influenced/benefitted health-service delivery | 16 | 35% |
Health sector (Clinical practice) | 37 | 80% |
4.2 Clinical trial has changed clinical practice and actual clinical practice has been evaluated | 19 | 41% |
4.3 Clinical trial has changed clinical practice and potential or estimated clinical practice has been evaluated | 30 | 65% |
5. Improved health for patients and public | 32 | 70% |
5.1 Clinical trial has contributed to improved health for patients (other than those in the trial) and actual health changes have been evaluated | 7 | 15% |
5.2 Clinical trial has contributed to improved health for patients (other than those in the trial) and health changes have been estimated | 29 | 63% |
6. Economic impact | 25 | 54% |
6.1 Clinical trial has led to direct cost savings for the health service | 12 | 26% |
6.2 Clinical trial has shown benefit of a diagnostic or management strategy that is cost-effective | 8 | 17% |
6.3 Clinical trial has led to measured or estimated benefits for the macro economy, e.g. sales of drug for a pharmaceutical company, setting up a new spin-off company | 10 | 22% |
6.4 Clinical trial has led to measured or estimated benefits to the macro economy from a healthy workforce, e.g. patient returning to work earlier | 1 | 2% |