Time to publication for NIHR HTA programme-funded research: a cohort study

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Biomedical Publication
• Health Technology Assessment

Background:

• Timely dissemination of research findings is crucial for evidence-based healthcare decisions.
• The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme funds a significant volume of health research.
• Understanding publication timelines is essential for assessing research impact and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the time to publication for primary research and evidence syntheses funded by the NIHR HTA Programme.
• To compare publication times for monographs in Health Technology Assessment versus journal articles in the broader biomedical literature.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study design.
• Inclusion of HTA Programme-funded projects registered by a specific date.
• Analysis of publication timelines using NIHR databases and the HTA Programme website.

Main Results:

• Median publication time for primary research was 23 months (26.5 months for monograph, 35.5 months for journal).
• Median publication time for evidence syntheses was 25.5 months (28 months for monograph).
• 69% of primary research and 65% of evidence syntheses were published within 30 months.

Conclusions:

• Research funded by the NIHR HTA Programme demonstrates prompt publication.
• Publication as an HTA monograph is significantly faster than as an external journal article, underscoring the value of the HTA publication route.