Alerts
The latest important research summarised
Short summaries of the latest health research presented in plain English to promote use of research by all members of society.
Whole-school programme can have a small effect on reducing bullying in secondary schools
An anti-bullying intervention trialled at 20 UK secondary schools resulted in a reduction in bullying incidents at school. The ‘Learning Together’ initiative was funded by the NIHR and designed to modify the school environment and provide social and emotional support. The trial took place over three years and involved around 3,000 pupils who were 11 ...
Measles vaccine still effective if given to infants under nine months old
A first vaccination dose against measles is a safe and somewhat effective option if given to infants earlier than usual, and before the age of nine months. However, vaccine effectiveness does increase when administered at older ages, as currently. Two doses of measles-containing vaccines are recommended as part of a childhood immunisation programme. In countries ...
Impact of online or app-based assessment for urgent health problems largely unclear
Relatively little robust evidence exists on the impact of online or app-based health assessments for people seeking urgent care. The available evidence suggests that these services are not as good at making diagnoses as health professionals; though it is not clear whether this is a useful benchmark. The ‘NHS 111 Online’ service for symptom checking ...
Tranexamic acid is safe to use following mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury and reduces deaths
In people with mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury, tranexamic acid (a drug which reduces bleeding) given within three hours of injury reduces the risk of death by 22%. This effect is seen in a subgroup of those who are less severely affected. This NIHR-funded multi-centre international trial randomised 12,737 adults with intracranial bleeding to receive either ...
Intensive routine follow-up after bowel cancer treatment may not be necessary
More intensive follow-up strategies for patients who have surgery to cure bowel cancer do not result in an overall survival benefit when compared with less intensive follow-up. More intensive strategies include increased frequency of clinic visits, blood tests and scans. This Cochrane review did find that those people followed up intensively had more frequent surgery ...
‘Care navigation’ is being widely adopted in primary care, but in varying ways
Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in England are implementing care navigation in primary care to help people with non-medical issues to access alternative services. This ‘social prescribing’, facilitated by nominated care navigators, also aims to reduce the pressure on general practice, and forms part of the NHS Long Term Plan. This NIHR-funded study shows that the ...
Antenatal MRI can aid ultrasound when fetal brain abnormality is suspected
In utero magnetic resonance imaging (iuMRI) can provide a more accurate diagnosis when used after ultrasound in pregnancy. Adding iuMRI when a brain abnormality is suspected but unclear from ultrasound could help clinicians provide better prognostic advice and support to parents during pregnancy. This NIHR-funded cohort study compared ultrasound and iuMRI in 570 women at ...
GLP-1 drug for diabetes gives modest cardiovascular benefits compared with placebo
Taking a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1) agonist drug lowers the likelihood of having a stroke, heart attack or dying due to cardiovascular causes by 12%. The drugs give a similar 12% reduction in overall mortality. They do not increase the risk of heart failure, very low blood sugar levels or pancreatic disease. Diabetes causes one ...
Uptake of shingles vaccination is more likely if proactively offered in primary care
The shingles vaccination programme is intended for people aged between 70 and 80 years, but uptake in this group has been low. This survey found that people were more likely to have had the vaccine if it was proactively offered by a GP or nurse. The survey was completed by 536 individuals born in 1934 ...
Computerised speech and language therapy can help people with aphasia find words following a stroke
People with aphasia caused by a stroke show improvements in retrieving words when they use self-managed computerised speech and language therapy in addition to usual care from a speech and language therapist. No improvements are seen in patients’ conversational abilities or their quality of life. Aphasia is a complex language and communication disorder. It can affect people’s ...
NIHR is the nation's largest funder of health and care research and provides the people, facilities and technology that enables research to thrive. NIHR Evidence is managed by NIHR with a funding contribution from Health and Care Research Wales, Welsh Government.
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