Advancing how the real-world impact of health and medical research is measured Research that improves patients’ lives matters deeply to the funders, institutions and researchers who dedicate their resources to medical and health research. But evaluating the impact of this research on policy and guidelines is traditionally measured by standard scholarly metrics in the absence of more targeted analysis that relates explicitly to health improvement.
BMJ and the pioneering technology start-up, Overton, set out to address this challenge by collaborating to develop BMJ Impact Analytics , the first research impact tool focused on health and social care. It was launched in January 2023, and shortlisted in June 2023 as a finalist for the prestigious Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers (ALPSP) Award for Innovation in Publishing 2023. 2
The concept of real-world impact has gained importance in the past decade due to budget cuts and the public questioning the value of research funding. Traditional scholarly metrics do not sufficiently measure impact, since they need to capture how research improves people’s lives. BMJ Impact Analytics helps to fill this gap by providing evidence of research being cited in policy and guidelines. Advanced tracking Previously, tracking this impact was time-consuming and costly, but BMJ Impact Analytics simplifies the process and provides more comprehensive insights. It shows links to patient outcomes (citing decision support tools), and enables a wider range of research to be assessed. Real-world focus
We chose to partner with BMJ because of their expertise and reach in the medical research community. Their existing relationships and global presence made the organisation a valuable partner. Additionally, BMJ’s mission-driven approach aligned with our values at Overton.” Euan Adie Founder and Director Overton
BMJ Impact Analytics contributes to shifting the focus of research assessment systems towards real-world impact and recognising the diverse contributions of researchers. The tool supports evidence-based policy decisions by providing evidence of the impact of research in the real world. It helps researchers understand and showcase the value of their work.
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