Assessing benefits from health research projects: can we use questionnaires instead of case studies?

An evaluative framework was developed by the Health Economics Research Group (HERG) for the UK's Department of Health (DH) to assess the benefits from DH-funded R&D. A questionnaire was devised to evaluate research funded by the North Thames National Health Service Executive: it was designed using the HERG multidimensional categorisation and model. Eighteen projects were the subject of more detailed case study analysis. The questionnaires provided a reasonably robust mechanism for routine monitoring; they could be strengthened in various ways in response to weaknesses exposed in the case studies.