Evaluating the effectiveness and impact of the 'HSE Spark' Innovation Programme: a qualitative study protocol

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Innovation and Management
• Public Health Policy and Systems Research
• Human-Centered Design in Healthcare

Background:

• European healthcare systems require systemic change through innovation to address complex challenges.
• Top-down innovation approaches have limited impact; frontline-led innovation is recognized as key for patient-centered care.
• The Irish Health Service Executive's (HSE) Spark Innovation programme supports frontline healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the experiences of frontline innovators supported by the HSE Spark Innovation programme.
• To strengthen support mechanisms for frontline healthcare professionals in addressing care challenges.
• To provide insights into structures supporting public sector frontline innovation and its impact on service users, staff, and the organization.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research employing a phenomenological framework.
• Stratified purposive sampling to recruit participants from the Irish public healthcare system who received HSE Spark support.
• One-to-one, semi-structured interviews analyzed thematically using NVivo software, adhering to the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) guidelines.

Main Results:

• The study aims to identify unspoken needs of healthcare innovators and the support required for continued innovation.
• Analysis will reveal the impact of supporting frontline innovation on service users, staff, and the broader healthcare organization.
• Findings will inform the development of effective support structures for frontline innovation in public healthcare.

Conclusions:

• Frontline-led innovation is essential for human-centered healthcare transformation.
• Understanding innovator experiences is critical for optimizing support programs like HSE Spark.
• This research will contribute to establishing robust frameworks for frontline innovation in public healthcare sectors.