       Document 1276
 DOCN  M9591276
 TI    Health services research in the United Kingdom 1990-1992.
 DT    9509
 AU    Dowie R; Health Information Utilisation Project, British Postgraduate;
       Medical Federation, London.
 SO    J Public Health Med. 1995 Mar;17(1):93-7. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/95306133
 AB    BACKGROUND. Shortly before the National Health Service (NHS) research
       and development (R&D) strategy was launched in April 1991, the
       Department of Health commissioned a study to collect information on
       current health services research and related work in the United Kingdom.
       The term 'health services research' was interpreted as research that
       could usefully inform the contracting arrangements in the reformed NHS.
       METHODS. The information was collected from funding agencies, in
       particular the UK health departments, the Medical Research Council and
       medical research charities; academic departments and research units and
       centres; NHS authorities; and research registers and directories. A
       total of 6185 projects that were either in progress or completed between
       January 1990 and mid-1992 were identified. RESULTS. Forty-three per cent
       of projects were disease related; 33 per cent assessed health
       technologies. Patterns were evident in the database. Sixty-three per
       cent of the projects on diseases were covered by five categories:
       cancer, the largest category with a quarter of the disease projects;
       perinatal medicine; cardiovascular disease and stroke; HIV and AIDS; and
       mental illness. Conditions that cause severe discomfort but are not life
       threatening were poorly represented. Clinical trials formed 25 per cent
       of the health technology projects, but only 6 per cent of the trials
       assessed surgical procedures. Less than 10 per cent of all health
       technology projects contained a costing component. In England, 34 per
       cent of projects with identified funding sources were supported by
       medical charities and other independent bodies, 31 per cent by NHS
       authorities, 20 per cent by the Department of Health and 15 per cent by
       the research councils. CONCLUSION. This collection of information
       represents a 'snapshot' of the scope of health services research against
       which it will be possible to measure the changes promoted by the NHS R&D
       programme.
 DE    Clinical Trials  Data Collection  England  Health Policy  *Health
       Services Research  Human  Research Support  State Medicine  Technology
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

