The Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions (DECI) research group aims to promote and support high quality research, innovation and impact associated with the development and evaluation of complex interventions. We focus specifically, although not exclusively, on the theme of social inclusion. Our research activity includes working with socially and economically marginalised groups and those with complex and co-morbid health needs (e.g. poor mental health or mental wellbeing, addictions, and poor physical health). Our interventions may be aimed at an individual, group, organisational, community or public health level. These interventions seek to improve outcomes such as lifestyle, health and wellbeing and cost-effectiveness.
The Medical Research Council (MRC) (2008) laid out guidance on the development and evaluation of complex interventions with specific, non-linear, steps to consider in feasibility/pilot work, development, evaluation and implementation. Our group holds and shares expertise in all these steps and in conducting process evaluation in line with the MRC (2015) process evaluation guidance.
The group is led by
Dr Cath Quinn and members include a range of staff from multi-disciplinary and professional backgrounds. DECI’s work encompasses how social factors (e.g. age, gender, socio-economic status) moderate intervention design, evaluation methods and effectiveness, and how psychological factors both moderate and mediate change (e.g., in health behaviour). The
Peninsula Clinical Trials Unit (PenCTU) supports complex studies, which require careful consideration of how to recruit and retain participants. The Medical Statistics and NHS Research Design Service staff and Public and Patient Involvement groups also provide expertise around areas such as study design, sample size calculations, data analysis, and insight into acceptability, feasibility and implementation issues.