Recent Reports
and Publications
Click on the tabs below to read publications from the sectors we operate in.
- Health and Human Services
- Crime, Justice and Security
- Education and Young People
- Other
Health and Human Services
Resources and Environmental Changes to Prevent Skin Cancer
June 2010
NICE, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in London, UK, was asked by the Department of Health (DH) to develop public health intervention guidance on sun protection resources and environmental changes to prevent skin cancer for the NHS and local authorities. Matrix Evidence was commissioned by NICE to develop economic analysis to inform the development of NICE public health intervention guidance on information, sun protection resources and physical changes to the environment to prevent skin cancer (phase 2).
You can find additional information on the NICE website.
Finding a Clearer Path for Cancer Survivors
June 2010
The Evaluation of the Pathways to Work Program for Cancer Survivors has now been launched in the UK, click here to access it.
Cost-Effectiveness of Interventions to Improve Moderate Physical Activity
May 2010
With growing concerns to establish the value for returns on public health investment, there is a need to identify cost-effective physical activity interventions. Dr. Kevin Marsh, Head of Economics at Matrix co-authored this study which can be downloaded here.
The UK study measured change in moderate physical activity (MPA) in seven community-based intervention types, costs and cost-effectiveness of the interventions, and possible explanations for cost variation.
Celebrating Innovation in Healthcare Technology
January 2010
David Thomas, Managing Director of Matrix Knowledge India was recently interviewed by eHealth Magazine.
The interview captures his views about the future of healthcare in India and explains the value-proposition of Matrix towards actualizing the vision. The article Transforming through Innovation – Redefining Indian Healthcare through Advanced Informatics can be found here.
Prioritizing Investments in Preventative Health
October 2009
Health England and Matrix recently launched H.E.L.P (Health England Leading Prioritization), an interactive on line tool supporting public health professionals and purchasers work in a way that is consistent with ‘World Class Commissioning’. You can now download the full report and visit the H.E.L.P tool website here.
Organizational Health: A New Perspective on Performance Improvement?
September 2009
The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement commissioned Matrix to produce a rapid literature review to understand the potential of organizational health more deeply.
The paper which can be downloaded here begins as a synthesis of the key themes connected to organizational health in the literature and then draws inference from wider concepts to extend these core ideas.
How Does the UK’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Value Health?
August 2009
Professor Paul Dolan, Chief Scientist at Matrix Knowledge Group, co-wrote an article published in the British Medical Journal on prioritizing decisions about conditions and treatments, which they argue should be based on people’s experiences rather than on what people think they might feel. Click on the title above to read the publication.
Lifelong Learning and Well-being: An Analysis of the Relationship Between Adult Learning and Subjective Well-being
July 2009
Matrix was commissioned by NIACE (National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) to prepare a paper addressing the question of how far learning can contribute to improving well-being. The paper takes a particular approach, applying cost-benefit analysis to produce very specific results, quantified and even given monetary values. Such an approach is open to criticism, but it helps to focus the debate on alternative choices. You can down the report by clicking on the title above.
Research into Diseconomies of Scale in Delivering Health and Social Care in Rural Areas
July 2009
The Social Exclusion Task Force (SETF) of the Cabinet Office commissioned Matrix to conduct a short-term review of:
- potential dis-economies of scale that may contribute to inequalities in the delivery of health and social care provision between densely and sparsely populated areas; and
- the potential for current reform policies to create or exacerbate any such dis-economies and inequities.
You can download the report by clicking on the title above.
Integrated Care – Attraction or Distraction
March 2009
Dr. David Welbourn, Director and Head of Health and Social Care at Matrix Knowledge Group wrote an arcticle in the NAPC (National Association of Primary Care) magazine on Integrated Care. The article titled “Integrated Care – Attraction or Distraction” can be downloaded by clicking on the title above.
Health England Report, No. 2
March 2009
The UK Department of Health commissioned this review of existing literature and evidence regarding the cost-effectiveness of public health interventions.
Access of BME Staff to Senior Positions in the NHS
January 2009
The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement’s Breaking Through team commissioned the Matrix Knowledge Group to ‘look specifically at the organisational barriers to black and minority ethnic (BME) staff rising to positions of authority and influence in the NHS’ in order to inform future developments.
Survey of Step Improvements in Community Services
November 2008
The UK National Health Service’s Institute for Innovation and Improvement commissioned this report to support the development of it’s new Productive Community Services program.
National Innovation Centre, Innovation Metrics Project
November 2008
The UK National Health Service’s Innovation Centre commissioned this study to determine how innovative the National Health Service was, especially in regard to the adoption of effective new technologies.
Prioritising Investment in Public Health: A Review of the Evidence
October 2008
The UK Department of Health commissioned this review to help answer questions regarding which public health interventions work best and provide the best value for money.
Economic Analysis of Interventions to Improve the Use of Smoking Cessation Interventions in Disadvantaged Populations
May 2008
The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence commissioned this study as part of a series of studies focused on assessing the cost-effectiveness of programs aimed at improving the access of disadvantaged groups to statins and to smoking cessation interventions.
Economic Analysis of Interventions to Improve the Use of Smoking Cessation Interventions in the General Population
May 2008
The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence commissioned this study as part of a series of studies focused on assessing the cost-effectiveness of programs aimed at improving the access of disadvantaged groups to statins and to smoking cessation interventions.
Economic Analysis of Interventions to Improve the Use of Statins in Disdvantaged Populations
May 2008
The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence commissioned this study as part of a series of studies focused on assessing the cost-effectiveness of programs aimed at improving the access of disadvantaged groups to statins and to smoking cessation interventions.
Economic Analysis of Interventions to Improve the Use of Statins Interventions in the General Population
May 2008
The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence commissioned this study as part of a series of studies focused on assessing the cost-effectiveness of programs aimed at improving the access of disadvantaged groups to statins and to smoking cessation interventions.
Supplementary Economic Analysis on Interventions to Reduce Health Inequalities
May 2008
The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence commissioned this study as part of a series of studies focused on assessing the cost-effectiveness of programs aimed at improving the access of disadvantaged groups to statins and to smoking cessation interventions.
Reducing Avoidable Mortality: Chief Executives Lead the Way
June 2007
Matrix Knowledge Group developed this guide for the UK National Health Service as part of a two part series focused on reducing avoidable deaths in hospitals.
Reducing Avoidable Mortality: Medical Directors Drive Improvement
June 2007
Matrix Knowledge Group developed this guide for the UK National Health Service as part of a two part series focused on reducing avoidable deaths in hospitals.
The Role of Public Health in Supporting the Development of Integrated Services
May 2007
The UK Care Services improvement Partnership commissioned this study to identify effective ways to design and evaluate the delivery of integrated services.
Final Report on the National Evaluation of the Local Exercise Action Pilots
March 2007
The UK Department of Health commissioned this study to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of pilot programs aimed at increasing people’s level of physical activity.
Evaluation of the Impact, Costs and Benefits of the Healthcare Commission’s Standard Assessment
March 2007
The UK Healthcare Commission commissioned this evaluation to determine the costs and benefits of previously adopted core standards assessment process.
Community-Based Interventions to Reduce Substance Misuse Among Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Children and Young People
March 2007
The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence commissioned this study to produce guidance regarding effective community-based interventions related to drug misuse for healthcare practitioners and others with responsibility for children and young people.
Modelling the Cost Effectiveness of Community-Based Substance Misuse Interventions for Vulnerable Young People
August 2006
The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence commissioned this study as part of a two-part series focused on determining the cost effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing substance misuse among young people.
Rapid Review of Economic Evidence of Community-Based Substance Misuse Interventions for Vulnerable Young People
May 2006
The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence commissioned this study as part of a two-part series focused on determining the cost effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing substance misuse among young people.
Modelling the Cost Effectiveness of Physical Activity Interventions
April 2006
The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence commissioned this study as part of a two-part series focused on determining the cost effectiveness of primary care-based physical activity interventions.
Rapid Review of the Economic Evidence of Physical Activity Interventions
April 2006
The UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence commissioned this study as part of a two-part series focused on determining the cost effectiveness of primary care-based physical activity interventions.
Crime, Justice and Security
What works in delivering cost effective information in Government?
August 2010
This case study provides an overview of the performance management software that Matrix Knowledge Group developed on behalf of the UK’s National Offender Management System (NOMS). It describes some of the advantages of the Matrix system, such as faster turnaround of performance management reports, easier access to a wide range of performance data, an easy to use web interface for collecting performance data, and improved quality of the collected data.
Presentation of Youth Offender Intervention Analysis
November 2009
Matrix Evidence were commissioned by Barrow Cadbury Trust to undertake an economic analysis of alternative interventions for young adult offenders. You can download the report here.
Lifelong Learning and Crime: An Analysis of the Cost-effectiveness of In-prison Educational and Vocational Interventions
July 2009
Matrix was commissioned by NIACE (National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) to prepare a paper addressing the question of how far learning can contribute to a reduction in crime. The paper takes a particular approach, applying cost-benefit analysis to different programs. The analysis produces very specific results, quantified and given monetary values. It extends the analysis to potential lifetime savings from investment in learning. You can download the report by clicking on the title above.
Is Custody an Effective Sentencing Option for the UK?
July 2009
Kevin Marsh (Head of Economics at Matrix), Rashmi Sarmah and Chris Fox (Manchester Metropolitan University) wrote a paper on the effectiveness of custody as a sentencing option which was published in the June edition of the Probation Journal. You can read a summary below and download the report by clicking on the title above.
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Prison numbers in the UK are at record levels and continue to rise. The rise in prison numbers has led to a renewed focus on the relative effectiveness of different sentences and in particular the effectiveness of prison when compared to alternative, community-based, sentences. The aim of this research is to test the hypothesis that prisons are an effective means of reducing re-offending in the UK. A review of existing studies identified 91 estimates of the effect on re-offending of prison for adults when compared against alternative sentences and 15 estimates of the effect on re-offending of prisons for juveniles when compared against alternative sentences. A meta-analysis was conducted on the different combinations of intervention and counterfactual information identified in the literature. The analysis suggests that the following alternative sentences for adult offenders reduce re-offending when compared to prison: residential drug treatment, surveillance, surveillance with drug treatment, prison in combination with educational/vocational interventions, prison in combination with behavioral interventions, prison in combination with sex offender treatment, and prison in combination with drug treatment. The analysis also identified the following alternative sentences for juvenile offenders which reduced re-offending when compared with prison: community supervision with victim reparation, and a community program with aftercare and surveillance. The hypothesis that prisons are an effective means of reducing re-offending in the UK is generally rejected.
Business Intelligence Led Modernization and Improvement of Correctional Services: Lessons from Abroad
July 2009
Matrix wrote an article on the use of business intelligence to improve correctional services which has been published by BeyeNETWORK. The article compares the use of performance management metrics in the UK and US correctional systems. Click on the title above to read the article.
Are Short Term Prison Sentences an Efficient and Effective Use of Public Resources?
July 2009
Matrix Insight Ltd was commissioned by the Make Justice Work campaign to undertake an independent assessment of whether short-term prisons sentences are an effective and efficient use of public resources.
Economic Analysis of Drug Transaction “Cycles” Describe by Incarcerated UK Drug Dealers
February 2009
Matrix Knowledge Group gathered and analyzed data regarding the drivers of prices of illegal substances for a study focused on the dynamics of the market for illegal substances.
How Illegal Drugs Enter an Island Country: Insights from Interviews with Incarcerated Smugglers
February 2009
Matrix Knowledge Group gathered and analyzed data regarding the mechanisms by which illegal drugs enter a country.
Do You Get What You Pay For?
January 2009
Dr. Kevin Marsh, Matrix’s Head of Economics, published this paper which assesses the relative economic costs and benefits of alternative sentences in The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice.
The Cost of Future Problem Drug Use Associated with Young People’s Behaviors and Circumstances
January 2009
Dr. Kevin Marsh, Matrix’s Head of Economics, published this paper on the cost of adolescent drug use in the Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics.
The Application of Directive 2004/80/EC Relating to Compensation to Crime Victims
December 2008
The European Commission’s Directorate-General: Justice Freedom and Security commissioned this study to determine whether an EU directive had made it easier for crime victims to gain access to appropriate compensation, regardless of where the crime was committed in the EU.
Business Views of Organised Crime
December 2008
The UK Home Office commissioned this study to measure the extent and impact of organized crime against small businesses. Research included conducting over 400 interviews with businesses in three English cities.
The Economic Case for and Against Prison
November 2008
Matrx Knowledge Group published an updated version of this groundbreaking report.
Dedicated Drug Court Pilots: A Process Report
April 2008
The UK Ministry of Justice commissioned this independent process evaluation of dedicated drug court pilots in England and Wales.
The Illicit Drug Trade in the United Kingdom
February 2008
The UK Home Office commissioned this study in order to better understand the illicit drug market in the UK. Research combined sociological, economic and business analytical frameworks and included conducting interviews with over 200 drug dealers and traffickers in prison for more than seven years.
Understanding Drug Markets and How to Influence Them
August 2007
Matrix Knowledge Group co-authored this report which examined the operations of midle-level drug dealers and how their behaviors are influenced by the activities of law enforcement agencies.
Education and Young People
An economic analysis of School-Home Support
March 2010
Matrix completed a piece of research for the charity School-Home Support. This work was funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. Matrix estimates that for every pound spent on the charity’s work in schools, £21.14 is saved across the whole of society.
The cost of future problem drug use associated with young people
March 2010
Kevin Marsh, Head of Economic Evaluation at Matrix, recently published research on the cost of adolescent drug use in the Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics. For further details on this research, please contact Kevin on email hidden; JavaScript is required.
Other
Sharing Responsibilities for Asylum Seekers
March 2010
Matrix UK Insight division were commissioned to find out what responsibilities Member States should take for Asylum-Seekers. Click here to read a summary of this report.
Study on Access to Cross-border Services in Europe
December 2009
Matrix Insight has recently completed a study for the European commission focusing on understanding the extent to which consumers have equal access to products and services delivered from different countries.
The full report can be accessed here, and you can read more about Matrix Insight’s European work here.
Innovation and Competitiveness in Europe
October 2009
Matrix was commissioned by the European Commission to review the impact and effectiveness of its funding of several hundred industrial and technology projects across the EU27. The aim of the program was to support growth, innovation and global competiveness within Europe.
You can see the results of the evaluation exercise here and download the full report.
Summary of the Impact Assessment Study of the ERA-NET Scheme under the Sixth Framework Programme
July 2009
The European Commission, through the Directorate-General for Research, commissioned Matrix Insight to evaluate the impact of the ERA-NET scheme. Rambøll Management and independent experts supported Matrix in delivering the impact assessment. Click on the title above to read the report titled Summary of the Impact Assessment Study of the ERA-NET scheme under the Sixth Framework Programme.
A Guide to Giving 3rd Edition
December 2008
Matrix Knowledge Group contributed a chapter in evaluating the impact of charities for this publication by Philanthropy UK.
Innovation Index Working Paper
September 2008
Matrix Knowledge Group contributed signficantly to this study which examined the relationship between innovation and public well-being and potential related public policy implications.
Hidden Innovation: How Innovation Happens in Six “Low Innovation” Sectors
June 2007
The UK National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts commmissioned this research to identify the means by which innovation happens in industry sectors typically characterized as being “low innovation.”