February 2009 Coverage
Exercise to aid smoking cessation during pregnancy
24 February 2009 - Medical News Today
New research commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme will investigate if supervised exercise, added to standard smoking cessation support, can help pregnant smokers to quit.
19 February 2009 - Times Higher Education
The NIHR's Health Technology Assessment programme produces independent research information on the effectiveness, costs and broader impact of healthcare treatments and tests for those who plan, provide or receive National Health Service care. Listed here are the November 2008-January 2009 research grants awards.
'Plaster cast better' for sprains
13 February 2009 - BBC News
People with a sprained ankle recover faster if they are given a plaster cast, British researchers say. A study of 600 patients found that a 10-day below-knee cast is more effective than standard treatment with a tubular bandage. The findings, published in The Lancet, are at odds with general medical opinion that the best thing for a sprained ankle is to keep it moving. Up to 1.5m people a year in the UK go to A&E with a sprained ankle.
13 February 2009 - The Lancet
A pragmatic randomised controlled trial compares the effectiveness of three different mechanical supports - a brace, a boot, and a below-knee cast - to that of a tubular compression bandage; the most effective treatment was the cast, discussed by Sallie Lamb in a podcast. A Comment states: "the results of this study call into question the current standard of aggressive functional treatment of patients recovering from acute ankle sprains".
12 February 2009 - Investegate
Deltex Medical Group plc ('Deltex Medical' or the 'Company'), the global leader in oesophageal Doppler monitoring ('ODM'), today announces the publication of an important new report on the clinical and economic benefits of ODM. The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) report is a high-quality systematic review of the randomised controlled trials published to date using ODM (mostly the CardioQ-ODM™).
10 February 2009 - BMJ
Is as clinically effective as that delivered by doctors, but may cost more . The multicentre randomised controlled trial by Williams and colleagues (doi:10.1136/bmj.b231) compares the clinical effectiveness of doctors and nurses undertaking upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. The study by Richardson and colleagues (doi:10.1136/bmj.b270) assesses the cost effectiveness of this approach. The studies found no significant difference in clinical outcomes, although doctors seemed to be more cost effective.
10 February 2009 - BMJ
Objective: To compare the cost effectiveness of nurses and doctors in performing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy.
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