Health services research in the United Kingdom 1990-1992

Shortly before the National Health Service (NHS) research and development (R&D) strategy was launched in April 1991, the Department of Health commissioned a study to collect information on current health services research and related work in the United Kingdom. The term 'health services research' was interpreted as research that could usefully inform the contracting arrangements in the reformed NHS.

The information was collected from funding agencies, in particular the UK health departments, the Medical Research Council and medical research charities; academic departments and research units and centres; NHS authorities; and research registers and directories. A total of 6185 projects that were either in progress or completed between January 1990 and mid-1992 were identified.

Forty-three per cent of projects were disease related; 33 per cent assessed health technologies. Patterns were evident in the database. Sixty-three per cent of the projects on diseases were covered by five categories: cancer, the largest category with a quarter of the disease projects; perinatal medicine; cardiovascular disease and stroke; HIV and AIDS; and mental illness. Conditions that cause severe discomfort but are not life threatening were poorly represented. Clinical trials formed 25 per cent of the health technology projects, but only 6 per cent of the trials assessed surgical procedures. Less than 10 per cent of all health technology projects contained a costing component. In England, 34 per cent of projects with identified funding sources were supported by medical charities and other independent bodies, 31 per cent by NHS authorities, 20 per cent by the Department of Health and 15 per cent by the research councils.

This collection of information represents a 'snapshot' of the scope of health services research against which it will be possible to measure the changes promoted by the NHS R&D programme.