SRA have worked with a number of Health Trusts to understand public attitudes and experience of services. SRA’s expertise in research with diverse social groups has been particularly useful in this respect. These studies have been used to inform service priorities, particularly when planning to become arm’s length providers’.
- For Walsall Community Health, SRA conducted a patient survey and a series of discussion groups with specific groups of service users. This research produced a number of recommendations for service priorities.
- For Dudley Community Health, SRA conducted a series of focus groups to assist with the options appraisal process
- For County Durham PCT, SRA conducted focus groups and workshop sessions with service users, providers and referrers, to assess support for arts-based therapy for the prevention of low-level mental health problems. A survey of stakeholders was also conducted.
- Working with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, SRA conducted research with staff and members to gauge perceptions of current service levels and suggestions for future improvements.
A related area of expertise is in the assessment of heath needs for diverse communities. SRA are currently working with South West Essex PCT to produce two health needs assessments for BME and Gypsy and Traveller patients in area. In both cases SRA‘s approach has focused on in depth desktop research to inform a thorough research programme with service users and stakeholders.
SRA have also conducted research on public attitudes to health issues. For North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus research assessed public knowledge and attitudes to sexual health and contraception. SRA used this research to subsequently develop a social marketing strategy to guide future awareness work in the area
