The aim of our Clinical and Healthcare Research strategy is to improve standards of care and quality of life for people with MND.
There is increasing recognition of the need to lay out the evidence base, so that reviews of formulations of policy can take scientific knowledge into account.
DoH Policy Research programme, 1997
Evidence from Care Research
Ensuring that MND is treated as a healthcare priority requires us to champion changes in care provision at all levels but we need a strong evidence base to be successful. This will be conducted through our campaigning and influencing activities.
To improve standards of care, we have developed evidence-based Clinical Guidelines. In a nutshell, these establish what does and does not work, in order to provide healthcare professionals with practical (day-to-day) benefits for individuals, as well as acting as a tool to influence statutory provision.
Closing the knowledge gaps
The systematic reviews conducted to establish the Clinical Guidelines identified evidence of best practice, but also highlighted considerable gaps in our knowledge of how to treat MND.
Priorities for funding on areas where evidence-based research could make a signficant impact on disease management have been identified. Initially emphasis will be placed on supporting the Respiratory Insufficiency and Nutritional Management guidelines.
