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The prevalence of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the UK: a targeted systematic review
Autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are included in a wide variety of neurological and cognitive disorders referred to as neurodivergent conditions. Individuals with autism may experience diverse conditions within a spectrum medically classified as autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
The objective of this scoping review is to identify current literature reporting on prevalence of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with or without co-occurring learning disability in individuals of any age living in the United Kingdom. The review will aim to summarise reported prevalence estimates and examine the methodological characteristics of prevalence studies.
Review questions:
What is the current estimate of the prevalence of autism, ADHD with or without learning disabilities in the UK?
Which methodologies are used to determine prevalence estimates?
How do the estimates vary by age, sex/gender, race/ethnicity, region or setting?
For more information about this project visit the NIHR Funding and Awards page.
Medicines optimisation at care transitions for people living with Dementia: A qualitative systematic review of patient, carer and healthcare professional perspectives.
People with dementia often have complex and changing medication regimes and because of the nature of dementia, are not always able to manage these regimes themselves. It can also be a challenge for their carers - both paid and unpaid carers. Medication related harm is a global issue, highlighted by the World Health Organization, and the reduction of harm to patients is a priority. As well as knowing what we can do to ensure that communication works so that medications are taken safely and effectively, it is also important to understand how patients, carers and healthcare professionals think that communication works and how it could be improved.
The University of Sheffield research team will identify studies which look at what happens when people with dementia move between different settings for example their home, sheltered accommodation, a care or nursing home, a hospital or a hospice in terms of how healthcare professionals communicate with each other (and with patients and their carers) about the medicines that the people with dementia are taking.
Review questions:
What are the views of patients and carers about the factors that influence medicines optimisation at transitions of care for PLWD?
What are the views of healthcare professionals about the factors that influence medicines optimisation at transitions of care for PLWD?
What is the perceived impact on PLWD, healthcare professionals and carers when medicines are not managed/optimised at transitions of care?
Is there evidence relating to communication as a factor that impacts on medicines optimisation at transitions of care?
Can we map evidence on factors that influence medications optimisation onto existing frameworks of transitions of care?
For more information about this project visit the NIHR Funding and Awards Page.
Systematic Review of Current and Future Technologies for Audiology Services
Hearing problems affect many people, from young children to older adults. Audiology services help identify and manage these problems. However, these services can be hard to access, slow, and not always user-friendly. New technologies could change this, making hearing tests and treatments better and easier to use. Our review will look at new and upcoming technologies that could improve hearing tests. We want to know:
What new technologies for hearing tests are available now?
What future technologies are being developed?
How might these technologies change the way hearing tests are done?
For more information about this project visit the NIHR Funding and Awards page.
Click here to view horizon scanning report
Click here to view summary of reflections and suggestions
Population screening for dementia in adults
The initial aim of this project is to update a 2019 evidence review produced for the UK National Screening Committee by producing two evidence maps. An evidence map aims to gauge the volume and type of evidence relating to a specific topic. The relevant evidence is summarised, and a recommendation is made on whether the evidence is sufficient to justify a more in-depth evidence summary.
Evidence map 1 will address the following questions:
What is the volume and type of evidence available on the accuracy of screening tests used to detect MCI and/or any type of dementia?
What is the volume and type of evidence available on the pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions used to treat asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic adults with MCI and/or any type of dementia identified through screening?
The horizon scanning evidence map aims to systematically identify emerging screening tests and interventions for dementia and MCI. Specifically, it will address the question 'What is the available evidence of active research or development (including clinical trials, observational studies, evidence syntheses, patents, or opinions) investigating:
Innovative screening tests, diagnostic tools, care pathways or risk assessment approaches for MCI and dementia
Novel interventions (both pharmacological and non-pharmacological) to prevent, delay or treat MCI and dementia'.
For more information about this project visit the NIHR Funding and Awards page.
Systematic review of the effectiveness of ten High Impact Initiatives/Interventions (HIIs) for Recovering Urgent & Emergency Care Services
An independent evaluation of the NHS England delivery plan for recovering urgent & emergency care services (‘the UEC recovery plan’).
The recovery plan has two headline objectives over two years:
A 30-minute mean response time for Category 2 ambulance in 23/24
76% performance in A&E wait times by end 23/24, measured through the 4-hour target.
NHS England has asked urgent and emergency care systems to focus on 10 High Impact Initiatives (HIIs); areas anticipated to have the biggest impact on UEC performance for Winter 2023/24.
This review will address the following research questions:
What is the emerging evidence base for the 10 HIIs based on a review of published and grey literature?
What evidence is there for each HII relating to:
Impact on UEC performance (two headline objectives)
Cost effectiveness
Outcomes and benefits.
For more information about this project visit the NIHR Funding and Awards website.
Click here to view plain language summary
The acceptability of blood spot screening and genome sequencing in newborn screening: a systematic review examining evidence and frameworks
It has recently become even more crucial to assess the health benefits and harms that such screening programmes have on the individuals and their families in light of Genomics England's plan to use Whole Genome sequencing to screen 100,000 newborns for rare diseases. One of the screening criteria used by the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) to evaluate screening programme is that ‘The test should be clinically, socially and ethically acceptable to the population’.
This review will address the following research questions:
What are the currently available methods to evaluate acceptability of newborn screening programmes?
What do we know about the quantity and quality of research that relates to acceptability in newborn screening tests?
How robust are the tools which are used to evaluate acceptability in newborn screening?
What are the implications of the evidence for the introduction and evaluation of new newborn screening programmes?
For more information about this project visit the NIHR Funding and Awards website.
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