Disseminating and Implementing Evidence from Patient-Centered Outcomes Research in Clinical Practice Using Mobile Health Technology (R21)

Frequently Asked Questions

The following questions are derived from individual questions submitted to AHRQ about the Disseminating and Implementing Evidence from Patient-Centered Outcomes Research in Clinical Practice Using Mobile Health Technology (R21) and are shared here for all potential applicants. We encourage applicants to review all replies and to monitor this site for newly added questions and answers.

A. Determining Suitability of the Theme, Projects, or Research Ideas for Submission
B. Formatting, Organization, and Page Limits of Submissions
C. Letters of Intent

A. Determining Suitability of the Theme, Projects, or Research Ideas for Submission

Question A1: How can applicants determine if their planned approach is a good fit for this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)?

Answer A1: Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the FOA closely, including its explicitly stated objectives and review criteria; this is the best available guidance to potential applicants about the responsiveness of their planned research. Applicants should be aware that the determination of suitability and responsiveness of applications is within the purview and authority of the peer review panel, not AHRQ staff.

Question A2: Can applicants discuss the scientific and research aspects of their proposals with AHRQ?

Answer A2: AHRQ appreciates all expressions of interest from prospective applicants. Applicants should read the RFA closely, including its review criteria; this is the best available guidance to potential applicants about the responsiveness of their planned research.

Applicants who have specific questions after reviewing the RFA, can Email their questions to Scott.Smith@ahrq.hhs.gov. For reasons of equity and consistency, AHRQ scientific staff responds in writing to all inquiries. Wherever it is possible and appropriate, AHRQ will clarify common areas of uncertainty in a written and generalized format that is applicable for dissemination to other potential applicants, such as frequently asked questions.

Telephone counseling on potential study ideas is discouraged in order to be equitable and avoid potential misdirection of applicants.

Question A3: How do applicants determine what Patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR) findings are relevant for dissemination and implementation under this FOA?

Answer A3: PCOR findings are research results published by the Patient- Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) (http://www.pcori.org

) as well as other government-funded research relevant to comparative clinical effectiveness research. Applicants may propose and provide a rationale for the PCOR findings that motivate their grant application. This includes, but is not limited to, citing relevant journal articles in which authors acknowledge PCORI or government agencies like AHRQ and NIH as the funding source of the publication. In addition, applicants may develop generalizable approaches and are not limited to projects involving currently published PCOR studies. Because of the increasing number of PCOR studies that are anticipated, applicants are encouraged to review descriptions of PCOR grants that have been awarded by PCORI, AHRQ, and NIH. Examples of Web sites that provide this information includehttp://pfaawards.pcori.org

, http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov, and http://www.report.nih.gov.

Question A4: What is patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR)? Do published guidelines qualify as PCOR or do applications have to include published research that demonstrates the efficacy of one or more interventions?

Answer A4: The definition of PCOR is provided in the FOA and additional clarification is listed in the above A3 FAQ . Applicants should carefully review Section V of the FOA entitled, "Application Review Information", to learn how the selection process works and how applications will be scored by reviewers. Applications proposing to use guidelines need to explain how the project enables the dissemination and implementation of evidence from (PCOR) into clinical practice. Applicants also need to explain how the proposed project is responsive to the purpose of the FOA. Likewise, applicants that propose projects to enable dissemination and implementation of evidence from one or more published interventions would also have to explain how the project is responsive to the purpose of the FOA.

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B. Formatting, Organization, and Page Limits of Submissions

Question B1: Should applications include a 1-page introduction?

Answer B1: Applications for this FOA are considered new applications, so a one page introduction is not required. Applicants will find that they do not have the ability to submit an introduction in the SF 424 form. The Table of Page Limits includes text about an introduction page; however, this applies to revised or resubmitted applications and does not apply to this FOA.

Question B2: Does the 12-page limit for the Research Strategy section of the application include the Specific Aims?

Answer B2: No. The Specific Aims are limited to one page, which is separate from the Research Strategy.

Question B3: Are applications allowed to have appendixes?

Answer B3: Applications may include an appendix, but applicants should not use the appendix to circumvent the specific page limit for the Research Strategy component. Applicants should observe the page number limits specified in the FOA. Applications will be rejected if they are not compliant with these requirements.

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C. Letters of Intent

Question C1: What specific information should be in the letter of intent? Is there a particular format or length?

Answer C1: As stated in the RFA, the letter of intent allows AHRQ staff to estimate the potential peer review workload and plan the review accordingly (that is, anticipate the nature of reviewer expertise that will be required). The letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and is not considered in the review of a subsequent application. AHRQ requests that letters of intent for this FOA be Emailed to Scott.Smith@ahrq.hhs.gov by June 20, 2014.

Prospective applicants may submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

Descriptive title of proposed activity.
Name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s) of the PD/PI.
Names of other key personnel.
Participating institution(s).
Number and title of this funding opportunity.

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Current as of June 2014

Internet Citation: Disseminating and Implementing Evidence from Patient-Centered Outcomes Research in Clinical Practice Using Mobile Health Technology (R21) : Frequently Asked Questions. June 2014. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/funding/fund-opps/rfahs14010faq.html