Exploring an alternative way to triage samples within cervical cancer screening
Our analysis comparing the costs of using DNA methylation testing for triage instead of liquid-based cytology (LBC) within the Netherlands cervical screening programme has now been published as an open access peer reviewed publication in the journal Diagnostics. Self-sample collection for human papillomavirus (HPV)-primary cervical screening has been adopted in some settings to complement traditional Read More >
Assessing the potential health and economic benefits of improved management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in England, Germany, Canada, and Japan.
We are pleased to announce the publication of our research on the value of improved management for COPD in the International Journal of COPD. In this study, we used established modelling techniques to estimate the potential health and economic benefit of theoretical policy scenarios for two interventions aimed at reducing hospitalisations due to severe exacerbation: Read More >
Economic evaluation comparing two cervical screening strategies in Belgium: HPV primary versus co-testing
Our recent research comparing two hypothetical cervical screening algorithms in Belgium, has been accepted for publication in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention and is now available online as a preprint in medRxiv. In the study, we performed a cost-consequence analysis to evaluate the financial implications and potential benefits of two different screening protocols: 1) Read More >
Looking at the cost implications of using PCR-based respiratory panel assays for patients admitted to hospital with pneumonia in the UK, France and Spain
Our paper on the cost of using PCR-based respiratory panel assays for patients with pneumonia was published this week in BMC Pulmonary Medicine. This work, funded by the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), compared the cost of using standard diagnostic tests with the cost of using either an upper respiratory pathogen PCR-based panel test, a lower Read More >
Economic evaluation of different sampling strategies for cervical cancer screening
Our recently published paper comparing different cervical screening options in England provides early economic evidence that sample self-collection may be a cost-effective option for cervical cancer screening programmes. This work supports decision-making for cervical screening programmes. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, yet most cases are preventable through early detection Read More >
Exploring the cost-effectiveness of focused ultrasound in treating Essential Tremor in England
Medically refractory Essential Tremor (mrET) is the most common movement disorder affecting approximately 1 million in the United Kingdom and can be disabling. Medical treatment is not always successful at controlling tremors. Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a proven neurosurgical treatment; however, the risks of surgery and anaesthesia mean some patients are ineligible for DBS. Read More >
Novel diagnostics may be a cost-effective intervention for sepsis management to reduce bed days and reduce inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition in response to infection. Without rapid treatment, sepsis can result in tissue damage, organ failure or death. Speed is of the essence for sepsis management and faster diagnosis of specific pathogens may help ensure patients receive the most appropriate treatments as soon as possible. Reducing the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics Read More >
Comparing the costs and benefits of the use of an mRNA HR-HPR assay to a DNA HR-HPV assay in the proposed cervical screening programme in France
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women aged 15 to 44 years in France. With the implementation of cytology-based cervical screening, cervical cancer incidence and mortality have decreased over time, however, cervical cancer remains a concern. As cervical cancer is primarily caused by persistent infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV), guidelines for Read More >
What are the common barriers to optimal COPD care?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a preventable, progressive respiratory disease, characterized by irreversible airflow limitation and symptoms such as dyspnoea, persistent cough, and sputum production. COPD was the third leading cause of mortality worldwide in 2019 (1), responsible for 3.23 million deaths (2). Despite the availability of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Read More >
Further evidence that point of care (POC) testing for STIs means better clinical care for patients
Most people are now familiar with using rapid diagnostic tests with many people regularly using lateral flow tests for COVID-19. Within sexual health clinics, rapid testing for HIV has been widely used for a number of years but using rapid tests for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea is not yet Read More >