Comparison of Models and Frameworks of Medical Research Impact Assessment

The present review article aimed to identify, introduce and compare models and frameworks used for the impact assessment of medical research. Comprehensive searches were conducted in various databases in order to identify models and frameworks. Those works that proposed a model or framework were chosen for the review and comparison. Thirteen different models and frameworks were identified. The level of assessment, items that models evaluate, and the type of impact they assess showed some differences. In terms of the type of impact, Research Excellence Framework was the only framework to cover all social, economic, cultural, and scientific aspects. There is still not a single standard model to assess the impact of medical research. However, among the proposed models, the payback model appears to be more widely used and accepted. There is also ambiguity in the utilizations of the terms “impact” and “outcome” and in some works they have been used interchangeably.