New doctoral methods course: Development and Adaptation of Complex Healthcare Interventions

The course is led by Docent Joanne Woodford, who is an expert in developing and evaluating complex interventions using the UK Medical Research Council Framework, and has extensive experience in adapting and optimising interventions for specific populations.

Introduction to MRC's Complex Interventions Framework

– We have identified that there is limited training for PhD students in how to systematically plan, design, and adapt healthcare interventions, says Joanne Woodford. This course provides a structured and highly practical introduction to the UK Medical Research Council’s Complex Interventions Framework, providing students tools they can apply directly in their own PhD projects.

Holly Sugg, who is also a teacher on the course, is experienced in developing and adapting complex healthcare interventions.

– Understanding how to develop complex healthcare interventions is the essential first step in the MRC Framework, says Holly Sugg. This course goes beyond the initial development process itself to provide knowledge and skills for tailoring and optimizing existing interventions for different contexts. As such, this course provides a unique opportunity to learn about enhancing the cultural appropriateness of our interventions and their suitability for specific populations, ultimately improving the acceptability and potential effectiveness of these interventions.

Participatory approaches

Throughout the course, students will explore key components of developing and adapting complex interventions, such as involving interest-holders, synthesizing evidence, using theory and logic models, collecting qualitative and quantitative data, and planning for real-world implementation. A strong emphasis is placed on participatory approaches, including public contribution and co-design.

Teaching includes lectures and interactive seminars featuring discussions, role-play, case work, and simulated data collection, grounded in the research expertise of U-CARE and the CIRCLE research group.

📅 Course period: September - October 2026
📚 Credits: 7.5
🌍 Language: English