Insights from Value in Health studies now available in clear, nontechnical language for patients and the general public
Lawrenceville, NJ, USA—June 30, 2025—ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research, announced today the launch of its Plain Language Summaries program, an extension of ISPOR’s efforts to make health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) more accessible to patients, caregivers, and the general public.
The Plain Language Summaries program transforms published research articles from ISPOR’s preeminent HEOR journal—Value in Health—into clear, nontechnical summaries that can be easily understood by laypeople, regardless of their expertise in health economics or clinical research.
"Health economics research provides valuable insights that can inform healthcare decisions, but too often this important work remains locked behind technical language that's difficult for patients and families to understand," said ISPOR CEO & Executive Director Rob Abbott. "Our plain language summaries break down these barriers, ensuring that everyone can access and benefit from the latest research findings."
Key features of the Plain Language Summaries initiative include:
- Strategic Rollout: The initiative will begin with Editor's Choice articles from Value in Health, with expansion planned for additional articles in the future
- Regular Publication: ISPOR plans to publish summaries for approximately 4-5 selected articles per monthly issue, totaling nearly 50 summaries annually
- Easy Access: All summaries will be freely available directly on article abstract pages via the ISPOR website
The initiative aligns with growing recognition across the healthcare industry of the importance of clear communication and patient engagement. By making research findings more accessible, ISPOR aims to empower patients and families to better understand the evidence behind healthcare recommendations and participate more fully in healthcare decision making.
“We are delighted to launch the provision of plain language summaries for Value in Health,” said Editors-in-Chief, Nancy J. Devlin, PhD, and C. Daniel Mullins, PhD. “Papers published in Value in Health are at the forefront of new methods and evidence in health economics and outcomes research. The plain language summaries will ensure that the insights from these are accessible to patients and others involved in and affected by healthcare decision making.”
"This initiative reflects our belief that research should serve everyone, not only HEOR professionals," added Abbott. "When non-HEOR expert audiences can understand the research that supports their treatment, reimbursement, and care decisions, we create opportunities for more informed decisions and better health outcomes."
The Plain Language Summaries program will complement ISPOR's existing educational and research dissemination efforts, furthering the organization's mission to promote excellence in health economics and outcomes research worldwide.
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ABOUT ISPOR
ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR), is an international, multistakeholder, nonprofit dedicated to advancing HEOR excellence to improve decision making for health globally. The Society is the leading source for scientific conferences, peer-reviewed and MEDLINE®-indexed publications, good practices guidance, education, collaboration, and tools/resources in the field.
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ABOUT VALUE IN HEALTH
Value in Health (ISSN 1098-3015) is an international, indexed journal that publishes original research and health policy articles that advance the field of health economics and outcomes research to help healthcare leaders make evidence-based decisions. The journal’s current impact factor score is 6.0 and its 5-year impact factor score is 5.7. Value in Health is ranked 5th of 124 journals in Health Policy and Services, 12th of 185 journals in Health Care Sciences & Services, and 37th of 617 journals in Economics. Value in Health is a monthly publication that circulates to more than 55,000 readers around the world.
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