Information and Communication Technology
Research Initiative
ICTRI
the programme the team the research links contact us
 
 

About the programme

Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) are enabling technologies for the NHS. Areas such as computers to support decision making; imaging; hospital information systems, computerised medical records, and telemedicine have all evolved rapidly. The opportunities from ICTs are considerable.  The ICTRI will provide evidence to help optimise benefits and realise the full potential of these technologies and inform future strategic planning and policy on the use of ICT in healthcare.

The ICTRI is a programme of research funded and managed by the Policy Research Programme at the Department of Health and is in two phases:  ICTRI 1 which was completed at the end of 2006.  ICTRI 1 helped to inform the research strategy for ICTRI 2 which was commissioned in 2006 and began in early 2007.  The specifications for both initiatives were also informed by a series of background research.

News and events

22nd March 2011

Department of Health workshop on the self management of hypertension.

Notes of the meeting
17th July 2010 A paper from one of the recently completed ICTRI 2 projects (TASMINH2) on the self management of hypertension has been published in the Lancet.
17th May 2010 Department of Health Seminar on technologies to support weight management and activity monitoring
30th May 2007 Special issue of UK HEALTH INFORMATICS TODAY focusing on the ICTRI2 projects
15th February 2007 Seminar held at Wellington House, Waterloo Road, London to mark the beginning of ICTRI-2

Aim

The main aim was to commission broad based, multidisciplinary health service research to evaluate how ICT can provide clinical, managerial and patient benefits. 

There is a need to improve the evidence-base for decisions on ICT investments, including the wider organisational and social issues associated with successful implementation of systems into clinical practice.

The NHS has been a test-bed for many ICT developments, but with limited shared awareness and a general lack of knowledge about many pilot activities.

Another barrier to the effective utilisation ICT in health care is the general lack of evidence for their effectiveness.  The ICTRI will help to fill this void and identify further gaps in the evidence.

Three major areas of use form the core of these research initiatives along with research issues relating to public and professional acceptability of the technologies, and other criteria for successful implementation.  The three major areas are:

  • ICTs in the provision of information:
  • ICTs in clinical and managerial decision making and to improve healthcare delivery
  • technologies to assist in working across boundaries
Disclaimer: Dr. R. G. Curry is the scientific advisor to the ICT Research Initiative. This website is maintained by the University of Portsmouth and any opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Department of Health or the University of Portsmouth.

Last updated by the ICTRI website team at the University of Portsmouth.