Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria for classification of projects as ‘public health research projects’ within the NIHR public health overview (PHO) dataset used for this analysis

Inclusion criteria:

• Preventative interventions at the population level

• Early identification and screening programmes

• Identification of clinical thresholds and care pathways of common conditions

• Health inequalities

• Improving services – health needs assessment and health planning

• Health protection including patient safety, infection control

Exclusion criteria:

• Treatment interventions with the exception of treatments for perinatal mental disorders and where increased physical activity is used as the intervention

• Basic clinical studies

• Diagnostic test

• Workforce issues, including leadership and training issues

• Projects investigating study design

• Secondary prevention studies (e.g. prevention of relapse of depression)