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MedTech-related health technology assessments from NIHR in May 2022
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funds valuable independent research for health and social care decision-makers in England. Reports from the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme are published in the NIHR HTA Journal and inform NICE guidance.
In May 2022, three MedTech-related assessments were published in the NIHR HTA Journal:
- An assessment of colonoscopy surveillance following adenoma removal to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer was based on a retrospective cohort study and economic evaluation. The study was carried out in 17 UK hospitals. It was concluded that surveillance was associated with reduced colorectal cancer incidence in all risk groups. However, in low-risk patients and the lower-risk subgroup of intermediate-risk patients, colorectal cancer incidence was no higher than in the general population without surveillance, indicating that surveillance might not be necessary. Surveillance was most cost-effective for the higher-risk subgroup of high-risk patients;
- An assessment of the transfer of thawed frozen embryo versus fresh embryo to improve the healthy baby rate in women undergoing IVF was based on a pragmatic, multicentre, two-arm, parallel-group, non-blinded, randomized controlled trial (E-Freeze RCT). Eighteen in vitro fertilization clinics across the UK participated from February 2016 to April 2019. It was concluded that freezing all embryos followed by thawing and transferring them at a later stage instead of fresh embryo transfer did not increase the healthy baby rate;
- Digital smartphone intervention to recognize and manage early warning signs in schizophrenia to prevent relapse assessment based on a multicentre, two-arm, parallel-group cluster randomized controlled trial involving eight community mental health services, with 12-month follow-up (EMPOWER feasibility cluster RCT). It was concluded that a trial of digital technology to monitor early warning signs blended with peer support and clinical triage to detect and prevent relapse is feasible.
See the full details here.
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