Piloting capability wellbeing measures to inform commissioning
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Piloting the feasibility of using capability wellbeing measures to inform outcome-based commissioning at Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group
IRAS ID
239333
Contact name
Birgit Whitman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 5 days
Research summary
Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is committed to improving health and wellbeing from available resources. This necessitates working towards assessing and comparing outcomes of interventions across health and social care, which would be greatly facilitated if a suitable generic outcome measure could be applied. The current dominant generic outcome measure developed by health economists focuses on health-related quality of life (using quality-adjusted life years, QALYs). This approach is well established for use in economic evaluation, but is not sufficiently holistic to inform commissioning across health and social care. However, capability measures have been developed for this purpose. The “ICECAP-O” measures quality of life for people 65 years and Older across five attributes (attachment, role, enjoyment, security and control); “ICECAP-A” for all Adults has attributes of stability, attachment, autonomy, achievement and enjoyment. Health itself is not included as an attribute as ultimately its importance is an enabler to achieve capability across the five identified attributes. While health economists have started to use capability measures in economic evaluations, they also have considerable additional potential for use by commissioners. \n\nThis project aims to assess the feasibility of collecting and quantitatively analysing capability measures across different patient groups and settings. We will also conduct a qualitative study to investigate the acceptability and usefulness of ICECAP measures to key stakeholders, including patients, clinicians, and commissioning decision-makers. It builds on Gloucestershire CCG’s initial work in 2015 raising the profile of capability measures in the CCG, which generated considerable enthusiasm. However, it was also clear that support would be required for service providers to enable them to participate in piloting the use of capability measures. The project will facilitate practical support to clinicians for managing data (patient-level collection, appropriate recording and sharing) and a suitable infrastructure (as an NIHR research project) to secure collaborative commitment from service providers.\n
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0099
Date of REC Opinion
10 Apr 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion