Case studies

Impact of trained volunteers on the care of older patients - the Southampton Mealtime Assistance and Mobility Programme

20 January 2021

The Impact of trained volunteers on the care of older patients - the Southampton Mealtime Assistance and Mobility Programme is a programme of research which started in 2010. A 12 month feasibility study recruited 29 volunteers who assisted 3911 patients, including 386 who were fed. A subsequent implementation study across four departments demonstrated a cost-effective improvement in quality of care for older inpatients with trained volunteers.

Simple blood test gives pregnant women a fast and accurate diagnosis for pre-eclampsia

12 January 2021

A blood test has been shown to speed up diagnosis of pre-eclampsia and help determine which women are at most risk of developing severe complications. The test is now widely available across the NHS.

New evidence-based model provides framework to support people with learning disabilities

07 January 2021

A new approach to the prevention of challenging behaviour among people with learning disabilities in social care settings has reduced challenging behaviour by two thirds and been rolled out across 800 residential settings.

How artificial intelligence is revolutionising ophthalmology

21 December 2020

Dr Pearse Keane, NIHR Clinician Scientist, is responsible for a research collaboration that has the potential to save sight.

Transforming prostate cancer diagnosis for men around the world

18 December 2020

A non-invasive test for prostate cancer gives a clearer picture of clinically relevant cancer, ruling out cancer in many cases and ensuring more accurate biopsy for those who need it

Leading the world in frailty identification and management

11 December 2020

An electronic frailty index developed by NIHR-funded researchers has been rolled out in primary care nationally.

Transforming out-of-hospital care for people who are homeless

04 December 2020

NIHR funded research shows that hospitals with access to a specialist step-down service for their homeless patients saw an 18% reduction in A&E visits.

Breast cancer screening for women in their forties could save lives

01 December 2020

Screening women for breast cancer in their forties reduces their chance of dying from breast cancer by 25% in the first 10 years of screening.

The beautiful game

26 November 2020

NIHR-funded researchers from the University of Glasgow evaluated the effectiveness of Football Fans in Training (FFIT) - a programme to help football fans lose weight, feel better and live a healthier lifestyle.

Is it time for lights out?

20 November 2020

NIHR research finds no evidence of an association between reduced street lighting and night-time road casualties or crime across England and Wales.

VOICE training for healthcare professionals aids communication with dementia patients

10 November 2020

The VOICE study looked at how healthcare professionals could improve their knowledge, confidence and skills for communicating with patients with dementia. It has led to the development of an evidence-based communication skills training course.

Skin-to-skin contact to encourage breastfeeding

05 November 2020

Research supporting the use of skin-to-skin contact to encourage breastfeeding has global impact.

Reducing patient harm through medication errors

02 November 2020

A set of safety indicators to identify patients at risk of harm from prescribing errors, along with a pharmacist-led IT-based intervention, are reducing clinically important medication errors.

The DDD Study: Deciphering Developmental Disorders Study

01 November 2020

The aim of the Deciphering Developmental Disorders Study (DDD) is to determine if new high-throughput genetic technologies can determine the cause of developmental disorders, and to facilitate the use of these technologies in the NHS.

Medical CT or MRI or PET Scan Standing in the Modern Hospital Laboratory room in hospital

PET-Neck - Impact Case Study

30 October 2020

The PET-Neck study showed the value of using PET-CT imaging to avoid unnecessary surgery in patients with head and neck cancer. As a result, PET-CT guided surveillance has now become the standard of care in the NHS, saving over £1,400 per patient over a two year period.

3d diagram showing the position of the thyroid

HiLo trial - impact case study

30 October 2020

The HiLo trial has led to changes in national and international guidelines for radioiodine dosage in patients with thyroid cancer, resulting in less toxic and better tolerated treatment that reduces patient side effects and saves money for the NHS.

The impact of smoke-free prisons in Scotland

25 October 2020

NIHR-funded researchers find an 80% reduction in harmful second-hand smoke concentrations following smoking ban in Scotland's prisons.

One year on: how the NIHR Nursing and Midwifery Incubator is building research capacity

21 October 2020

The Nursing and Midwifery Incubator is a community of professionals committed to supporting and developing the careers of nurse and midwife researchers.

Surviving sepsis - is this the answer?

20 October 2020

New drug helps medical teams make the best decisions to manage critically ill patients.

Close up of hearing aid in an older man's ear

Hearing Aids for Music - impact case study

13 October 2020

The Hearing Aids for Music project was the first large-scale investigation of hearing aid users’ experiences with music, leading to the development of resources for use by audiologists and hearing aid users to best manage the musical needs of patients.

A new perspective for a mental health researcher

02 October 2020

A leading mental health clinician and researcher in Yorkshire and Humber has gone from fleeing war-torn Afghanistan as a teenager to being awarded a British Citizen Award and being appointed as a NIHR Clinical Research Specialty Lead.

Leigh Franks Clinical Research Practitioner

Spotlight on the unsung heroes of clinical research

01 October 2020

Leigh Franks is a Clinical Research Practitioner and shares her experiences of the job, what it’s been like during the last few months since the pandemic began and why she feels there’s a bright future ahead for healthcare professionals working in this field.

UK achieves site activation world record for Roche during COVID19 pandemic

29 September 2020

The UK’s Urgent Public Health response has been applauded by global life science company, Roche, as COVACTA, an international COVID-19 trial, closes to recruitment in nine countries.

Seeking effective alternatives to mechanical ventilation for COVID-19 patients - the RECOVERY-Respiratory Support Trial

18 September 2020

An NIHR-funded and supported trial is seeking to resolve internationally conflicting guidance about respiratory support for severely ill COVID-19 patients. By collating vital evidence, in a robust way, this trial aims to determine which method of non-invasive respiratory support may have the best outcomes for patients, reduce the need for mechanical ventilation and decrease the burden on critical care wards.

Close up image of GP's hands writing on a pad

Testing treatments for COVID-19 through GP surgeries - PRINCIPLE

18 September 2020

The PRINCIPLE trial is the first to test potential treatments for COVID-19 through GP surgeries.

Case studies

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