Feasibility Assessment

#Say what kind of feasibility is being examined

NIHR's research guidance defines a feasibility study as asking whether something can be done, whether to proceed and how. A pilot adds a specific feature: conducting a future study, or part of it, on a smaller scale. The conceptual framework behind these definitions places pilot studies within feasibility research for future randomised trials.

Specify whether the question concerns delivering an intervention, recruiting for a study or running a proposed evaluation. These related questions are not interchangeable. NIHR's guidance is written for research funding, and the conceptual framework concerns preparation for trials; neither definition proves clinical benefit or overall readiness for routine care.

Evidence: NIHR: guidance on feasibility studies / Eldridge et al. (2016): feasibility and pilot definitions

#Choose methods for the actual uncertainty

NIHR asks applicants to identify the uncertainties that matter before a larger study rather than use a formulaic preparatory design. Examples include acceptability, willingness to participate, adherence, recruitment, outcome choice and follow-up. It notes that interviews or observation may suit some questions.

Link each proposed check to the uncertainty it could reduce. Recruitment numbers cannot answer every question about delivery or acceptability. A positive finding under one set of conditions should keep those conditions attached. This page does not design or authorise a study for a person or organisation.

Evidence: NIHR: guidance on feasibility studies

#Make operational requirements visible

For digital health deployment, NICE asks for clear input-data descriptions, tolerances for incomplete data, data flows and minimum infrastructure. It also asks about communication, consent where needed, end-user training and scale testing. These checks describe practical requirements that can affect whether an approach can work as intended.

Record the dependencies that are unresolved rather than describing them as already available. A technically possible test is not permission to use health data or change care. NICE's digital-technology scope is explicit; Mynd has not verified local resources, permissions or a safe operating process on this page.

Evidence: NICE: digital health evidence standards

Source note

The sections above were checked against the linked sources. No clinical review has been performed. This is general research education, not a clinical guideline.