EUnetHTA Adaptation Glossary (beta)

Original research conducted to collect new data to answer a question. HTA primary research aims to test the real life impact of an intervention by comparing it with another intervention. This is most often, but not always, in the form of a randomised controlled trial.

1. "Original research" in which data are first collected. The term primary research is sometimes used to distinguish it from "secondary research" (reanalysis of previously collected data), meta-analysis, and other ways of combining studies (such as economic analysis and decision analysis). However, because systematic reviews can provide answers not possible from individual studies they can also be considered to be primary research.
2. An investigation that collects original (primary) data from patients, e.g. randomized controlled trials, observational studies, series of cases, etc.