Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26792219›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2016

Exposing the impact of Citizens Advice Bureau services on health: a realist evaluation protocol.

N Forster, S M Dalkin, M Lhussier, P Hodgson, S M Carr

Abstract readEvaluation Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
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

5 authors.

N ForsterDepartment of Public Health and Wellbeing, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK Fuse (The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health), Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
S M DalkinDepartment of Public Health and Wellbeing, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK Fuse (The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health), Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
M LhussierDepartment of Public Health and Wellbeing, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK Fuse (The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health), Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
P HodgsonDepartment of Public Health and Wellbeing, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.
S M CarrDepartment of Public Health and Wellbeing, Northumbria University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK Fuse (The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health), Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK Federation University, Australia.

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/K02325X/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionWelfare advice services can be used to address health inequalities, for example, through Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). Recent reviews highlight evidence for the impact of advice services in improving people's financial position and improving mental health and well-being, daily living and social relationships. There is also some evidence for the impact of advice services in increasing accessibility of health services, and reducing general practitioner appointments and prescriptions. However, direct evidence for the impact of advice services on lifestyle behaviour and physical health is currently much less well established. There is a need for greater empirical testing of theories around the specific mechanisms through which advice services and associated financial or non-financial benefits may generate health improvements. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A realist evaluation will be conducted, operationalised in 5 phases: building the explanatory framework; refining the explanatory framework; testing the explanatory framework through empirical data (mixed methods); development of a bespoke data recording template to capture longer term impact; and verification of findings with a range of CAB services. This research will therefore aim to build, refine and test an explanatory framework about how CAB services can be optimally implemented to achieve health improvement. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the ethics committee at Northumbria University, UK. Project-related ethical issues are described and quality control aspects of the study are considered. A stakeholder mapping exercise will inform the dissemination of results in order to ensure all relevant institutions and organisations are targeted.

Indexed as

Healthcare DisparitiesHealth Status DisparitiesPatient AdvocacySocial WelfareHealth Services AccessibilityHumansModels, StatisticalPrimary Health CareProgram EvaluationUnited Kingdomcitizens advice servicesPUBLIC HEALTHrealist evaluationsocial determinants of healthwelfare benefits

Identifiers

PMID26792219
PMCPMC4735145

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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 OpenQuestion graph.