Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42580830›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2026

Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of an online research capacity-building education programme for the health and care workforce: a mixed-methods pilot study.

Scott Lamont, Kathryn Berzins, Georgia Aspinall, Hayley J Lowther-Payne, Paul Boland, Catherine Harris, Joanna Harrison, Yasemin Hirst, Joseph Spencer, Jo Catherine Weldon and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Scott LamontUniversity of Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK slamont@lancashire.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0003-2497-1314
Kathryn BerzinsUniversity of Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK.
Georgia AspinallUniversity of Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK.ORCID 0009-0004-3806-1199
Hayley J Lowther-PayneUniversity of Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK.
Paul BolandUniversity of Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-2267-4295
Catherine HarrisUniversity of Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-7763-830X
Joanna HarrisonUniversity of Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK.ORCID 0000-0001-8963-7240
Yasemin HirstUniversity of Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-0167-9428
Joseph SpencerUniversity of Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-3723-7629
Jo Catherine WeldonUniversity of Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-0729-8121
Caroline Leigh WatkinsUniversity of Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-9403-3772

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an online research capacity-building (RCB) education programme for the health and care workforce and explore its preliminary outcomes.

designMixed-methods pilot study incorporating quantitative survey data and a qualitative group interview.

settingSingle Health Innovation organisation in England's North West region.

participantsStaff working in research, evaluation and innovation-related roles.

interventions16 one-hour online RCB education sessions, informed by the Research Capacity and Culture Tool (individual domain), were delivered weekly via Microsoft Teams between February 2024 and October 2024. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcomes were feasibility and acceptability of the programme, assessed through attendance and a participant group interview. The secondary outcome was change in behaviour intention measured pre-post education sessions using the Continuing Professional Development Reaction (CPD-R) questionnaire.

resultsAttendance per RCB education session ranged from 2 to 11 participants. Post-session CPD-R completion was low, limiting matched pre-post analysis, but median scores were generally higher post-session across most constructs. Four themes and eight sub-themes were identified from qualitative data. The four core themes were: establishing a common ground for research capacity building; creating pathways for meaningful involvement; translating knowledge within organisational contexts; and bridging individual development and collective momentum. The online format was received well for its accessibility and convenience, fitting within busy working schedules. Participants also reported increased confidence and perceived skill development.

conclusionsThis pilot study demonstrates initial feasibility and acceptability of an online format for RCB education within the health and care workforce. The format has potential for delivery at scale, where time and service pressures limit access to face-to-face programmes. Session length and content support require refinement in future iterations. Further research should examine implementation across diverse settings with larger samples.

Indexed as

Capacity BuildingEducation, DistanceHealth PersonnelHealth WorkforceEnglandFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMalePilot ProjectsProgram EvaluationQualitative ResearchSurveys and QuestionnairesCapacity BuildingEDUCATION & TRAINING (see Medical Education & Training)Evidence-Based PracticeHealth WorkforceQUALITATIVE RESEARCHResearch Design

Identifiers

PMID42580830
PMCPMC13475142

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.