Powering informed decisions with comprehensive literature reviews and evidence synthesis

In the dynamic field of health and medicine, access to reliable, synthesised evidence is paramount. Literature reviews play an important role in consolidating vast amounts of information into actionable insights. At YHEC, we specialise in crafting bespoke reviews that are suited to your unique requirements and context, ensuring you identify the evidence needed to answer your research questions and inform decision-making for both private and public sector stakeholders.

How can YHEC’s expertise in literature reviews and evidence synthesis help you?

YHEC’s expertise in evidence synthesis can help inform a range of decisions for industry, health systems and public health bodies, including:

  • Early-stage development: Informing product development strategies and clinical trial design by identifying unmet needs, understanding the burden of illness associated with a disease area, or exploring the comparator landscape.
  • Market access and HTA submissions: Conducting robust and thorough systematic literature reviews and network meta-analyses to identify the evidence of an intervention’s clinical or cost effectiveness, which can be used to support HTA submissions.
  • Informing publications and models: Providing the foundational evidence base required for academic publications or as inputs for health economic models. This can be particularly valuable for industry and local health systems looking to understand the evidence for a new service or pathway.
  • Strengthening value messaging: Developing compelling, evidence-backed narratives to communicate the value of health innovations to a diverse range of audiences, including policymakers and patient groups.

Why partner with YHEC?

Choosing YHEC for your literature review and evidence synthesis needs means partnering with a team that offers a:

Literature reviews fall on a spectrum, and we offer everything from full systematic literature reviews for HTA submissions through to pragmatic reviews to inform economic models or inform short-term strategic decisions for health systems. We work closely with clients to understand the review’s purpose, role in decision-making, and factors such as literature volume, project scope, and desired timelines and budget. This understanding enables us to tailor our approach and recommend the most suitable methodology, providing the precise type of evidence synthesis needed to support your objectives.

 

We are committed to staying at the forefront of literature review methods and actively evaluate emerging technologies, such as AI and new software. This ensures we can leverage innovative tools that truly enhance the review process.

Our approach is not about a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, we carefully assess each new method, weighing its benefits and limitations. We then select the best approach for your specific project, always keeping your unique research question and purpose in mind. By doing this, we use a research-led, AI-empowered approach that is both highly efficient and exceptionally accurate, ensuring you benefit from the most relevant and effective methods available.

We have a proven track record of producing high-quality work, evidenced by our great publication record and history in HTA submissions. We are also proud of our work with public sector clients like NICE, where we have delivered rigorous evidence for their evaluations. At YHEC, we continuously keep up to date with the latest review guidance and developments in reporting standards, adhering to them where appropriate, while also understanding the industry’s need for quick turnaround times.

Partnering with us means gaining access to a team with extensive experience in literature review and evidence synthesis. Our credibility in this field is demonstrated by our comprehensive training courses, which cover a range of crucial topics including network meta-analysis, citation analysis, and alternatives to systematic reviews. We empower our clients with the skills to confidently navigate and synthesise complex evidence, ensuring they can make well-informed decisions based on the most robust data available.

Explore YHEC's recent publications in this area

Peer-reviewed publication

Reported Demographics of Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases in the United States

YHEC authors: Lavinia Ferrante di Ruffano, Emma Carr, Mary Edwards, Mick Arber
Publication date: October 2025
Journal: The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDDs) are rare genetic disorders impairing immunity. Studies evaluating diagnostic rates of PIDDs in historically marginalized US populations are limited. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a scoping review...

Peer-reviewed publication

A Systematic Review of Bone Graft Products Used in Lumbar Interbody Fusion Procedures for Degenerative Disc Disease

YHEC authors: Anita Fitzgerald, Rachael McCool, Emma Carr, Paul Miller, Katie Reddish
Publication date: January 2025
Journal: North American Spine Society Journal (NASSJ)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is associated with chronic lower back pain that may have impacts on individual's quality of life and functional ability. Lumbar interbody fusion can be carried...

Peer-reviewed publication

Single-Arm Interventional versus Observational Studies for Assessing Efficacy: A Meta-Epidemiological Study

YHEC authors: Mary Chappell, Deborah Watkins, Alice Sanderson, Lavinia Ferrante di Ruffano, Paul Miller, Hariet Fewster, Anita Fitzgerald, Mary Edwards, Rachael McCool
Publication date: January 2025
Journal: Cochrane Evidence Synthesis and Methods

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Interventional single-arm trials (SATs) are increasingly being used as evidence, despite a lack of agreement on their validity and where they should sit in the hierarchy of evidence. We...

Talk to our expert

For more information about literature reviews and evidence synthesis, talk to our expert – Rachael McCool.

Rachael is sat behind a computer desk, smiling at the camera. The YHEC logo is visible on the wall behind her.