Landmark 300th monograph published
News release from the National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment
11 October 2005
The NHS HTA programme has published the 300th edition of its internationally acclaimed monograph series, Health Technology Assessment. The monograph, which forms Volume 9 No 40 in the series, features research which suggests that important reductions in stroke can be achieved if steps are taken to screen for a common heart condition. The 'SAFE' study: "Randomised controlled trial and cost-effectiveness study of systematic screening (targeted and total population screening) versus routine practice for the detection of atrial fibrillation in people aged 65 and over," suggests that screening by GPs for atrial fibrillation could reduce instances of stroke, the third most common cause of death in the UK. (For more details of the full study, visit the relevant news or project pages.)
The groundbreaking 300th study is a landmark in the publication of the journal series, which is MEDLINE and CINAHL indexed and features titles spanning all areas of healthcare research, from evaluations of new and existing drugs to the effectiveness of talking therapies as first line treatment for conditions such as depression. Vital research has been published in the series since the first edition in 1993. Memorable titles include 'Systematic review of the long-term effects and economic consequences of treatments for obesity and implications for health improvement,' 'Coronary artery stents: a rapid systematic review and economic evaluation,' and 'Clinical effectiveness, tolerability and cost-effectiveness of newer drugs for epilepsy in adults: a systematic review and economic evaluation.'
Published electronically and available in printed format, the monograph series is a respected resource for searchable research abstracts, evidence syntheses and summaries which form a key part of health technology research. Some monographs in the series have been translated into other languages including Japanese and German.
"The monograph series means that HTA research, and the knowledge and expertise that go with it, are accessible to a global audience," says Professor Tom Walley, director of the HTA programme. "Research undergoes rigorous peer-review drawing on the experience of world class experts before it is published in the series, so the monographs form a very robust, objective library of research spanning the last 12 years."
Notes for editors
-
The HTA programme is a programme of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and produces high quality research information about the effectiveness, costs, and broader impact of health technologies for those who use, manage and provide care in the NHS. It is the largest of the NIHR programmes and publishes the results of its research in the Health Technology Assessment journal, with more than 400 issues published to date. The journal’s 2007 Impact Factor (3.87) ranked it in the top 10% of medical and health-related journals. All issues are available for download free of charge from the website, www.hta.ac.uk The HTA programme is coordinated by the National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment (NCCHTA), based at the University of Southampton.
- The National Institute for Health Research provides the framework through which the research staff and research infrastructure of the NHS in England is positioned, maintained and managed as a national research facility. The NIHR provides the NHS with the support and infrastructure it needs to conduct first-class research funded by the Government and its partners alongside high-quality patient care, education and training. Its aim is to support outstanding individuals (both leaders and collaborators), working in world class facilities (both NHS and university), conducting leading edge research focused on the needs of patients. www.nihr.ac.uk
Contact details
Naomi Stockley, Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 595 646, Email: ns5@soton.ac.uk
Helen Nikandrou, Assistant Programme Manager (Communications)
Telephone: 02380 595 584, Email: h.nikandrou@soton.ac.uk
News feeds