Maximising audit and feedback impact in decarbonising health services: a mixed methods study
Supervisors:
Dr Beatriz Goulao, School of Health and Wellbeing
Dr Evi Germeni, School of Health and Wellbeing
Summary:
Healthcare systems contribute significantly to carbon emissions, yet their mission is to protect and improve health. This project aims to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare by focusing on how professionals can change everyday practices that contribute to carbon intensity.
The research will explore how audit and feedback – a proven method for improving clinical practice – can be applied to sustainability. Audit and feedback involves gathering data about current practices and then sharing this information with professionals to encourage change. By adapting this approach to highlight the environmental impact of certain behaviours, the project seeks to support healthcare staff in making more sustainable choices.
The study will begin with a review of existing evidence and a survey of healthcare professionals to understand current use of audit and feedback in relation to sustainability. Interviews with key stakeholders will then identify barriers and opportunities. Finally, researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders will co-design an intervention to test whether audit and feedback can effectively reduce carbon-intensive behaviours in healthcare.
This interdisciplinary project combines health services research, behavioural science, sustainability, and data-driven methods, offering practical solutions to align healthcare’s mission of protecting health with urgent climate goals. The student will be working with relevant networks to maximise impact into practice including the NHS Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme. The external supervisory team will include Dr Joseph John, NIHR Academic Clinical Lecturer, University of Exeter & Lead for Sustainable Care Pathway Development, NHS GIRFT programme & Dr Kristin Konnyu, Lecturer, University of Aberdeen an experienced implementation scientist and evidence synthesis expert.