Clinical Audit
Published: 7 April 2026
Updated: 17 November 2016
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Research and Evaluation Guides
Where do I start? Your research team and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Sharing your research findings Evaluation, audit & quality improvement Research is the process of retrieving knowledge that can be generalised or transferred. It is widely recognised that research-active organisations deliver better outcomes for patients. Therefore, all health professionals (and those especially in pharmacy) have a key role in leading or supporting the delivery of research. Here you'll find guidance to help you critically evaluate evidence, develop your own research study, source funding, and disseminate your findings. These resources have been developed for all pharmacy professionals, at all levels, to help build knowledge, skills and confidence in research. We have introductory and more advanced content, as well as signposts to further resources. We also publish openly accessible guidance and support resources for all professionals to help build the capacity for research and evaluation across the sector. Our research funding guide contains information on current funding opportunities available across pharmaceutical and healthcare research. This is available here. Where do I start? Below you will find links to five educational hubs covering everything you need to know before starting the research process. A lot of planning and preparation is required when kicking off a research project, which can appear daunting if it's not a process you are familiar with. Before jumping into your research and deciding on the methods you'll be using, you should ask yourself questions like 'How do I transform my ideas into effective and thorough research?', 'How will my research fit with the existing literature?' and 'How will I fund my research?' Introduction to research It is widely recognised that research-active organisations deliver better outcomes for patients and, therefore, all health professionals have a key role in leading or supporting the delivery of research. Pharmacy professionals are ideally placed to deliver high-quality research in the healthcare environment. This guide provides an introduction to research and an overview of the research landscape in the wider context of pharmacy practice. The foundational knowledge you need to develop your research skills and confidence. Key points covered in this guide What do we mean by research? The value of research, in particular, how research can inform practice and improve patient outcomes Components and stages of the research process/cycle Main approaches to research in the context of pharmacy First published: 25 October 2022 Click here to visit the Introduction to research hub Turning your ideas into a research project The starting point for any research is to determine what needs to be investigated and why. The decision to undertake research may be a desire to contribute to existing work, or to address a specific area of health burden. However, narrowing down to a specific research topic or question, and developing clear research aims and objectives, can be challenging. This hub provides information about the groundwork required in order to turn your ideas into researchable topics. It describes how to formulate research questions by using evidence to narrow down a broader topic, and how to write clear aims and objectives. Key points covered in this guide The purpose of reviewing existing research evidence The main stages involved in searching for, and identifying, high-quality evidence from a variety of sources How to develop a good research question? How to develop clear research aims and objectives? First published: 25 October 2022 Click here to visit the Turning your ideas into a research project hub Finding and evaluating evidence Most healthcare professionals are expected to be up to date with the latest research and developments, and being able to identify and critically evaluate research is a central component of evidence-based practice. All research projects should include a review of the current evidence prior to the development of the research protocol. This guide provides information on how to search and evaluate evidence, through a process known as critical appraisal, in order to determine its value and applicability to clinical practice and using this knowledge to inform the research process. Key points covered in this guide The importance of using evidence to build a case for research Main types of evidence reviews and different synthesis approaches Developing a search strategy to identify relevant evidence Main elements of critical appraisal of evidence Managing and citing references First published: 25 October 2022 Click here to visit the Finding and evaluating evidence hub Research governance and ethics Having a good understanding of research governance and the process of obtaining ethics approval for your research will help you to deliver high-quality research, and ensure all participants and collected data are protected. This guide provides information on best practices in research governance and ethics, including an overview of the main policy framework documents and ethics approval resources and advice. Key points covered in this guide The differences between research ethics and governance An overview of ethics approval, where it is required, and the process of obtaining it The ethics relating to recruiting research participants How to effectively shield study participants and protect the confidential data gathered throughout the research process First published: 11 January 2023 Click here to visit the Research governance and ethics hub Your research team and Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Below you'll find links to two educational hubs that will help you build your perfect research team and understand which other stakeholders may help you throughout your research project. Building a team and collaborating An effective research team will determine the success of your research delivery. Ideally, your team should work collaboratively, drawing on a range of complimentary, interdisciplinary knowledge bases to drive your research forward. If participants are not as invested in or supportive of the research project as they could be, they may not engage in communications consistently and delay progress. It is therefore extremely important to carefully consider who you recruit to be a part of your research team. This guide will introduce you to the importance of working collaboratively, who should be included in your research group, how to define the roles of each group member, and the potential challenges of multidisciplinary work. Key points covered in this guide The key members of a research group and their roles How to identify an effective supervisor A mentor's role in your research projects How to overcome the challenges of multidisciplinary collaboration First published: 23 March 2023 Click here to visit the Building a team and collaborating hub Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement in Research Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) in research, refers to actively working with patients, carers, and/or members of the public as part of the research planning, design, management, and reporting process. “Nothing about me without me” PPIE can be thought of as a collaboration or partnership between researchers and members of the public, through which research is co-produced. PPIE can also be referred to as Public Involvement (PI) or Patient, Carer and Public Involvement (PCPI) in research. Sometimes the terms 'service user', 'lay member' or 'consumer' are used, rather than patient or member of the public. This guide will introduce you to the importance of consistent patient and public engagement in research. For information on PPIE in service evaluation or quality improvement, please refer to our hubs on these specific topics. Key points covered in this guide Why involve patients and public in pharmacy research? How to select patient and public team members The importance of patient and public contributions throughout the research cycle First published: 28 April 2023 Click here to visit the Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement in research hub Sharing your research findings Below you'll find details of four educational hubs covering everything you need to know about effectively disseminating ad communicating your research findings to your target audience. Reporting, publishing, dissemination, and impact One of the main goals of pharmacy research is to generate new evidence that can then be used to inform best practices. This guide provides information on effective research communication and dissemination strategies to achieve maximum impact. An overview of the purpose and principles of a good communication plan will enable you to maximise the benefits of your research. Key points covered in this guide: The main types of research outputs How to use different communication methods for maximum impact The principles of good dissemination The importance of adhering to relevant reporting and publishing guidelines First published: 25 October 2022 Click here to visit the Reporting, publishing, dissemination and impact hub Writing a winning abstract An abstract provides a summary of the key information from a full-length research publication. When written effectively, abstracts should provide sufficient information to allow readers to have a thorough understanding of the research and its outcomes without reading the whole paper. This allows readers to efficiently classify papers as relevant or not relevant to their interests. Key points covered in this guide The purpose and importance of abstracts The key information which should be included in an abstract The common pitfalls of abstract writing First published: 25 October 2022 Click here to visit the Writing winning abstracts hub Presenting at a research conference Research conferences provide a brilliant opportunity to disseminate your research and network with other professionals within your field. Understanding how to effectively communicate your research at conferences is therefore extremely important. This guide provides information and advice on research conferences, the abstract submission process, and how to craft effective poster and oral presentations. Key points covered in this guide The importance of research conferences in research dissemination An overview of the abstract submission process How to craft an effective poster presentation How to deliver a formal oral presentation First published: 09 March 2023 Click here to visit the Presenting at a research conference hub Research journal publications Research journals provide a brilliant platform to disseminate your research to other professionals within your field. Publishing your research provides others with the opportunity to review and scrutinise your research, or to build upon the findings from your study. Understanding how to effectively communicate your research and navigate the peer-review process is therefore extremely important. This guide provides advice on how to choose the best journal for your research/audience, as well as how to successfully navigate the peer-review process. Key points covered in this guide The importance of journal publications How to choose the right journal for your research The importance of the peer-review process Timescale of research publications First published: 17 March 2023 Click here to visit the Research journals publication hub Evaluation, audit, and quality improvement Below are three educational hubs that will help you understand how to evaluate the changes that have been implemented based on past research findings, and how to conduct research that will help improve existing services and/or programmes. Clinical audit Clinical audit is vital. First and foremost for patient care and safety, but also for the development and improvement of your professional practice. This guide will support you in preparing for and conducting your clinical audits, so you can demonstrate your excellent services and identify areas where you can enable real improvements. Key points covered in this guide What is a clinical audit? Why is a clinical audit important? What are the steps for conducting an audit? Audit templates First published: 17 November 2016 Click here to visit the Clinical audit hub Service Evaluation This guide aims to highlight the value of service evaluation in pharmacy and inspire you to develop your confidence and knowledge of evaluation as part of your professional role. Key points covered in this guide Introduction to service evaluation The benefits of conducting a service evaluation Summary of the main stages of a service evaluation Impact of service evaluations and integration into practice First published: 13 June 2023 Click here to visit the Service Evaluation Hub Quality Improvement This guide will provide an introduction to quality improvement (QI) and a summary of the different QI approaches. Key points covered in this guide What is QI and what are the main benefits? QI models and methods QI data collection and analysis Impact of QI and integration into practice First published: 14 September 2023 Click here to visit the Quality improvement hub
Research Journal Publications
Why publish your research in journals? The types of journal publications How do I choose the right journal? Why publish in a peer-reviewed journal? What to expect from the peer-review process Research journals provide a brilliant platform to disseminate your research to professionals within your field. Publishing your research provides others with the opportunity to review and scrutinise your research, or to build upon the findings from your study. Understanding how to effectively communicate your research and navigate the peer-review process is therefore extremely important. This guide provides advice on how to choose the best journal for your research/audience, as well as how to successfully complete peer-review. Key points covered in this guide The importance of journal publications How to choose the right journal for your research The importance of the peer-review process Timescale of research publications Journal publications Why publish your research in journals? Journal publications help to preserve your work in the permanent records of research in the field. There are both advantages and disadvantages to disseminating your research findings through a peer-reviewed journals: AdvantagesDisadvantagesCan be widely available for anyone to access the workCan be cited in future publicationsCan be indexed in credible journals or search engines (e.g. PubMed undergoes external validation and scrutiny – if peer reviewed)Can be costlyCan be time consumingThere may be a time lag between the work being completed and the output being disseminated The types of journal publications Journals publish different types of articles that vary in length, focus and detail. It is important to read the author guidelines offered by journals when considering what type of article to submit. Additionally, authors should check the types of study eligible for publication in different journals, for example, whether audits are accepted. Example: see the original research article guidelines from the International Journal of Pharmacy Practice (Int J Pharm Pract author guidelines) which provide specific guidelines for the articles they publish. Different types of journal articles: Primary research articles are full reports of rigorous, original research studies and are the most common form of published research Short reports, letters and brief communications briefly showcase data from original research (such as pilot studies or preliminary results), that will most likely stimulate further research in the field. These articles usually have quite restrictive maximum word counts Reviews and literature reviews critically assess published material on a particular aspect of science or practice using statistical meta-analysis or narrative review; some are written by leaders in a field at the invitation of the journal editor and are highly cited Case reports, studies or series focus on a specific instance or instances of interesting phenomena and are examples of best clinical practice Perspective, opinion, and commentary usually comprise reviews of fundamental concepts, evidence or ideas in a field, offering the author’s considered opinion and promoting discussion on current relevant issues. They can range from discussions on single studies or concepts to reviews or multiple related pieces of evidence Protocols, methodologies or methods present a new experimental method, test, procedure (novel or offering an improvement on an existing method) or a study protocol (e.g. a randomised controlled trial or systematic review); not all journals accept these as articles How do I choose the right journal? Researchers and practitioners working within pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences will most likely be familiar with a number of sector journals. However, colleagues, collaborators or co-authors can also be a useful resource to help you identify other respected journals within the field with maximum impact and reach. Checking a journal’s impact measures is also important. The impact factor is essentially the frequency with which an average article in the journal has been cited per year. This is an important consideration, with higher-impact journals (those with a higher impact factor) seen to be more desirable. There are other impact measures, such as the h-index and CiteScore. However, it is important to be aware of the debates around the value of the different impact measures and to consider where it is feasible to submit your paper to maximise the chance of successful publication, and which journal will be most read by your target audience. Examples of journals that publish pharmacy research: European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy International Journal of Pharmacy Practice Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Journal of Pharmacy Practice Pharmaceutical Journal Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy Other key journals: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology British Medical Journal European Journal of Public Health Health Services Research International Journal of Health Sciences and Research International Journal of Public Health Medical Education Why publish in a peer-reviewed journal? Peer review is the process by which research is independently assessed by other experts in the field (the referees). The peer-review process acts as a quality control system for manuscripts submitted to academic journals to evaluate their suitability for publication. This external scrutiny encourages authors to maintain the high standards of validity, quality, and originality in their given research field. Benefits of disseminating your research in a peer-reviewed journal Peer review is considered the gold standard for assessing the quality of academic research. The process subjects the author’s research to the scrutiny of others who are experts in the same field and is considered essential to ensure quality, validity and relevance. The quality assurance that comes with peer-reviewed results is a more trusted form of scientific communication. Peer-review feedback allows authors to improve their research paper by identifying methodological errors, gaps in knowledge and other improvements (such as presentation and communication of research) through constructive feedback. Publishing your research in a peer-reviewed journal can give it greater visibility among researchers within and outside of your field. Undergoing peer review may increase the readership of your work as many credible search engines, such as PubMed and Embase, allow readers to filter out research without peer-review. Having a body of published work in peer-reviewed journals can help establish you as an expert in the field, increase your chances of getting research funding and help advance your career. Note that not all journals are peer reviewed. Make sure you check before you start writing up. What to expect from the peer-review process While each scientific journal and funding body will have its own bespoke peer-review process, there are essential steps that exist across all systems. The journal editor is responsible for managing the communications between the lead researcher and the referees. Usually, these independent referees will remain anonymous, with feedback conveyed to the researcher via the editor. Often reviewers will suggest improvements for your article, though if the changes suggested are extensive the editor may outright reject the paper. This is not an unusual part of the peer-review process and, after thorough redrafting, you may choose to submit your paper again. Alternatively, after making amendments, you may consider submitting to a less prestigious journal where it may be easier to get your paper published. Timescales It is important to factor in the time lag from when you complete your research to the point at which it is accepted by the journal. It may take time to prepare the manuscript according to the instructions of the journal and, once received, the journal will send your manuscript for peer-review, which can take a few months. We offer a range of research support services to help you develop your research potential. If you need help getting started, get in touch with our research team at [email protected].