Healthcare is being transformed by digital technology—and so is the way we evaluate the interventions designed to improve it. The Evaluation of Healthcare Interventions module offers an in-depth exploration of how routinely collected data, emerging technologies, and innovative study designs can enhance the evaluation of real-world healthcare solutions.
This 12-week module empowers students with the practical skills and critical understanding needed to assess a wide range of healthcare interventions—from behaviour change apps to point-of-care treatments—through cutting-edge, data-enabled methods. You will engage with topics such as pragmatic trials, registry-based studies, wearables, and AI-driven interventions, learning how to plan, design, and critique evaluations with both scientific rigour and patient relevance.
Teaching is delivered through a blend of lectures, computer-based practicals, expert guest seminars, and discussion groups that focus on patient engagement, citizen science, and the ethical implications of digital health evaluation. You will learn to apply key methodologies including statistical analysis plans (SAPs), outcome measurement design, and causal inference techniques using real datasets and real-world challenges, as well as learning key consultancy skills to allow you to communicate effectively with researchers in other specialities.
This module is designed to reflect real-world practice, so the assessments are hands-on and directly relevant to careers in health research and evaluation. In assessment 1 (40%), you will take on the role of a trial analyst, developing a detailed plan for how to analyse data from a health care evaluation. This plan (called a statistical analysis plan or SAP) outlines what data you will look at, how you will handle it, and the methods you will use to answer your chosen research question. In assessment 2 (60%) you will choose a clinical question and explore how to evaluate it using different study designs. You will compare two approaches, explain their strengths and weaknesses, and recommend the best option. Importantly, you will also consider how the design includes patient perspectives—something that is vital in modern health research. You will present your findings as if writing for a methods journal, including a short plain-language summary.
Whether you are aiming for a role in clinical trials, health technology assessment, or digital health innovation, this module offers the tools and insight to contribute meaningfully to the future of evidence-based healthcare.