News — Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford

Four types of face masks arranged in a row on a flat surface: a dark cloth mask, a blue disposable surgical mask, a white KN95 mask, and a white N95 mask with a valve. The image accompanies a news story titled 'Comprehensive Review Confirms Mask Effectiveness Against Respiratory Infections, Urges Better Design and Policy Support' from the Department of Primary Care at the University of Oxford.

Comprehensive review confirms mask effectiveness against respiratory infections, urges better design and policy support

22 May 2024

New comprehensive review provides strong evidence that masks and respirators effectively reduce the transmission of respiratory infections like COVID-19, based on analysis of over 400 studies from multiple disciplines.

Image of two women leaving a pharmacy shop with medication in a bag - an older woman with a shopping bag on wheels is helped by a younger woman,

Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science part of project to help evaluate the new NHS Pharmacy First service

13 February 2024

A team of scientists and experts have been awarded funding to evaluate the new National Health Service Pharmacy First service.

An older woman using a laptop for a remote consultation with a younger female doctor wearing a face covering.

Overhaul of training needed to support general practice staff to provide remote health care, new study shows

29 December 2023

A new University of Oxford-led study in UK general practice shows that staff need more and different training to equip them for delivering remote healthcare.

NHS to expand use of University of Oxford’s OpenSAFELY secure COVID-19 research platform to help find new treatments for major killer conditions

20 November 2023

The NHS is to expand the use of the OpenSAFELY research platform, behind the roll-out of new Covid-19 treatments, to help drive life-saving advances for other major diseases.

E-cigarettes, varenicline and cytisine are the most effective stop-smoking aids, analysis of over 150,000 smokers reveals

12 September 2023

Oxford-led study identifies nicotine e-cigarettes, varenicline, and cytisine as top aids for stopping smoking long-term. Comprehensive analysis offers clear insights for effective quit strategies.

New Oxford Study Shows Brief Sleep Therapy Delivered by Nurses Improves Insomnia

11 August 2023

Researchers from the University of Oxford have found that a brief form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for insomnia, delivered by nurses in GP surgeries, significantly improves sleep and quality of life compared to sleep hygiene alone.

NDPCHS Joins Major NIHR Policy Research Programme on Cancer Research

4 August 2023

The NIHR unveils a significant investment in its Policy Research Units, with a spotlight on early cancer detection. Led by experts from Oxford and UCL, this initiative aims to transform research into actionable policies, targeting the NHS's ambitious goal of early diagnosis for 3 out of 4 cancer patients by 2028.

A photograph of Dame Jane Dacre delivering her keynote talk at the CfRE launch event

Double milestone for equity in health research for NDPCHS: CfRE's launch and a prestigious Incubator Award

8 June 2023

The Centre for Research Equity (CfRE) and the ‘Race Equity and Diversity in Careers Incubator’, both hosted by the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Science, University of Oxford, have recently celebrated significant milestones in their respective missions of promoting inclusivity and equity in health research.

Research from the University of Oxford key in new all-party government report evaluating government commitments on the digitisation of the NHS.

20 February 2023

The report, authored by a panel of independent experts, gave the government's progress an "inadequate" rating, raising questions about the Government's capacity to guarantee that the health and social care systems have the digital underpinnings they require to meet the challenges they face.

Photo flying helicopter of emergency medical service

Clinician-patient communication about emergency aerial medical evacuation in case of infectious disease

1 February 2023

New research from the University of Oxford, published today in the Journal of Travel Medicine, has developed a simple six-step check list clinicians can use to improve communication, decision making and planning about the possibility and practicalities of Aerial Medical Evacuation (AME).

Consultation between male GP and patient looking at test results

Study reveals association between diagnosis of a neuropsychiatric condition and severe outcome from COVID-19 infection, and other severe acute respiratory infections

14 November 2022

New research from the University of Oxford has shown an increased risk of severe illness and death from both COVID-19 and other severe respiratory infections, such as influenza and pneumonia, among people with a pre-existing mental health condition.

Food industry shows ‘stalled progress’ to reduce salt intakes, new Oxford-led analysis finds

20 October 2022

New research led from the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences has shown that, overall, the average salt content of food products sold at supermarkets has not changed between 2015 and 2020. The results also showed that for certain products (ready meals, pizzas and soups) the volume of salt sold increased during this time.

'Goldacre Recommendations' to Drive Innovation and Improve Healthcare Through Safer Use of Health Data Published

7 April 2022

Professor Ben Goldacre publishes findings from an independent review to improve use of health data in NHS. Recommendations include increasing transparency and modernising software infrastructure to boost research whilst maintaining high security standards. The findings have already helped shape the Health and Social Care Data Strategy, being published later this year, which will set out a vision to make better use of data to save lives.

Photo of a lady snapping a cigarette in half

In helping smokers quit, combining treatments is key

10 February 2022

A new clinical review provides guidance to physicians and the public about the most effective tobacco cessation treatments.

3d rendered illustration of heart attack and heart disease 3D illustration

Three out of four people with heart failure could be diagnosed sooner, potentially improving quality of life and reducing costs to the healthcare system.

29 November 2021

Researchers from the University of Oxford have today reported that only 1 in 4 people diagnosed with heart failure received a simple, recommended blood test that could have resulted in an earlier diagnosis at a more treatable stage.

Reduction in UK red and processed meat intake, but more needed to meet our climate targets

8 October 2021

Daily meat consumption in the UK has decreased by approximately 17.4g per person per day – just under a 17% reduction – in the last decade finds new research from the University of Oxford. Between 2008/09 and 2018/19 people in the UK reduced both the amount of red and processed meat they eat, while slightly increasing their white meat consumption. Yet, this reduction is significantly less than the 30% reduction the National Food Strategy has recently called for within the next ten years.

A woman taking her Hormone replacement therapy medication

Hormone therapy not linked to increased risk of developing dementia

30 September 2021

Use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), also known as hormone replacement therapy, HRT) is not associated with an increased risk of developing dementia, regardless of hormone type, dose, or duration, conclude a team of researchers from across the UK.

Five simple steps to effective opportunistic weight loss conversations in family practice

26 March 2021

Five simple communication changes could enable doctors to have more equitable and effective conversations about weight loss, finds new research from the University of Oxford and Loughborough University. With obesity as one of the few modifiable risk factors for developing severe COVID, the findings are especially important during the current pandemic.

Three images of Oxford researchers who make the BJGP Open's top 10 open research articles of 2020.

Oxford-led research makes BJGP Open's top ten most read open research articles of 2020

5 March 2021

Three articles, led by Oxford researchers in the department, including three DPhil students, make the top 10 list for the most read open research articles in the BJGP Open for 2020 - including number one.

Oxford Social Prescribing Research Network launches website

16 February 2021

The Oxford Social Prescribing Research Network from the University of Oxford have today launched a new website, bringing together world-class evidence-based research and expertise from the cultural and heritage sector to support people's health and well-being through social prescribing.

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