OP77 Conducting Rapid Assessments: Lessons From 25 Years Of Good Practice

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (S1) ◽  
pp. 27-28
Author(s):  
Paula Corabian ◽  
Bing Guo ◽  
Susan Armijo-Olivo ◽  
Carmen Moga ◽  
Ann Scott
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Developmental Changes ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Dynamic Relationship ◽  
Product Matrix ◽  
The Right

Introduction:The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Program at the Institute of Health Economics (IHE) has conducted rapid assessments (RAs) for 25 years. The presentation draws on this experience to chart the evolution of RAs over a 25-year relationship between a policy maker and an arms-length HTA agency to quantify the effects of this partnership on the RAs produced.Methods:The number, types, and methodological attributes of RAs produced over a 25-year partnership with a single requestor were reviewed. The reasons for developmental changes in RA products over time were charted to document the push-pull tension between requestor needs and HTA best practice. The elements contributing to the relevance and impact, or not, of the RAs were also identified.Results:Results demonstrated the dynamic relationship required for HTA researchers to meet best practice and requestor needs. As literature search spans lengthened and data analyses became more complex, limitations were imposed on RAs to fulfill the requirements of timeliness, utility, and best practice. Adaptations were driven by requestor, researcher, and the external policy environment. Facilitators of RA utility for HTA requestors include: asking focused, well-articulated questions; specifying the request's purpose; providing detailed information about local context and other relevant issues; and understanding the risk of bias associated with RAs. Considerations for HTA doers include: assembling a team using a triage process; involving requestors throughout RA development; negotiating deliverables and timelines using a HTA product matrix; transparently reporting methods; narratively describing methodological issues; and internally reviewing the draft RAs.Conclusions:RAs are a useful component of HTA programs. To keep these products relevant and useful, HTA agencies must allow RAs to evolve according to need, but with grounding in good practice. Negotiating the line between rigor and relevance is a key skill for HTA agencies. Having the right team is helpful.

Adaptive Evolution in Rapid Assessments: A 25-Year Perspective

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-81
Author(s):  
Paula Corabian ◽  
Bing Guo ◽  
Carmen Moga ◽  
N. Ann Scott
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Developmental Changes ◽  
Symbiotic Relationship ◽  
Health Ministry ◽  
The Past ◽  
Healthcare Environment ◽  
Dynamic Relationship ◽  
Alberta Health ◽  
Over Time

AbstractObjectivesThis article retrospectively examines the evolution of rapid assessments (RAs) produced by the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Program at the Institute of Health Economics over its 25-year relationship with a single requester, the Alberta Health Ministry (AHM).MethodsThe number, types, and methodological attributes of RAs produced over the past 25 years were reviewed. The reasons for developmental changes in RA processes and products over time were charted to document the push–pull tension between AHM needs and the HTA Program's drive to meet those needs while responding to changing methodological benchmarks.ResultsThe review demonstrated the dynamic relationship required for HTA researchers to meet requester needs while adhering to good HTA practice. The longstanding symbiotic relationship between the HTA Program and the AHM initially led to increased diversity in RA types, followed by controlled extinction of the less fit (useful) “transition species.” Adaptations in RA methodology were mainly driven by changes in best practice standards, requester needs, the healthcare environment, and staff expertise and technology.ConclusionsRAs are a useful component of HTA programs. To remain relevant and useful, RAs need to evolve according to need within the constraints of HTA best practice.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR GOOD PRACTICES IN HOSPITAL-BASED HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT UNITS

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 457-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Sampietro-Colom ◽  
Krzysztof Lach ◽  
Iris Pasternack ◽  
Jean-Blaise Wasserfallen ◽  
Americo Cicchetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Policy Decision ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Good Practices ◽  
Guiding Principles

Objectives: Health technology assessment (HTA) carried out for policy decision making has well-established principles unlike hospital-based HTA (HB-HTA), which differs from the former in the context characteristics and ways of operation. This study proposes principles for good practices in HB-HTA units.Methods: A framework for good practice criteria was built inspired by the EFQM excellence business model and information from six literature reviews, 107 face-to-face interviews, forty case studies, large-scale survey, focus group, Delphi survey, as well as local and international validation. In total, 385 people from twenty countries have participated in defining the principles for good practices in HB-HTA units.Results: Fifteen guiding principles for good practices in HB-HTA units are grouped in four dimensions. Dimension 1 deals with principles of the assessment process aimed at providing contextualized information for hospital decision makers. Dimension 2 describes leadership, strategy and partnerships of HB-HTA units which govern and facilitate the assessment process. Dimension 3 focuses on adequate resources that ensure the operation of HB-HTA units. Dimension 4 deals with measuring the short- and long-term impact of the overall performance of HB-HTA units. Finally, nine core guiding principles were selected as essential requirements for HB-HTA units based on the expertise of the HB-HTA units participating in the project.Conclusions: Guiding principles for good practices set up a benchmark for HB-HTA because they represent the ideal performance of HB-HTA units; nevertheless, when performing HTA at hospital level, context also matters; therefore, they should be adapted to ensure their applicability in the local context.

Developing World-Class Social Marketing Standards: A Step in the Right Direction for a More Socially Responsible Marketing Profession

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 14-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chahid Fourali
Keyword(s):  
Social Marketing ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Practice Standards ◽  
World Class ◽  
The Right ◽  
Separate Discipline ◽  
Marketing Profession

The issue of targeting best practice is a long-standing one in professional education and more particularly in marketing. It can be automatically brushed aside (because “we all know what marketing is about”), addressed in terms of general aims of marketing, or addressed systematically to identify in as much details as possible the tasks and responsibilities that marketers undertake in their daily activities. Apart from this issue of identifying what constitutes good practice, there is a relevant issue that needs addressing as a prerequisite: Whether social marketing is a separate discipline from mainstream marketing or not. How we respond to this question affects the method to be adopted for developing the benchmark of best practice standards. This article starts by addressing the latter issue, then identifies the contextual differences of social marketing, and finally presents the methodology for developing the best practice standards for social marketing, its general findings, and the way forward. It is useful to note at the outset that although the project referred to in this article was undertaken by the U.K.'s Marketing and Sales Standards Setting Body, its perspective was international and involved many contributors at international level. In the final stages of the project, the resulting best practice standards were presented for final feedback at the first international conference on social marketing held in Brighton, U.K., where several hundreds of participants from around the world took part. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Social Marketing Quarterly for the following free supplemental resources: Appendix A: List of Social Marketing Standards of Performance; Appendix B: Example of a Unit of Performance.]

scholarly journals From evidence to practice: Developing best practice guidelines for the delivery of activities to people living with moderate to advanced dementia using a pragmatic observational study

Dementia ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 147130122095780
Author(s):  
Amanda Burke ◽  
Andy Jones ◽  
Ryan Hughes ◽  
Emily Player
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Activities ◽  
Advanced Dementia ◽  
Best Practice Guidelines ◽  
The Right ◽  
Atmosphere Environment

The benefits of physical activities for those living with moderate to advanced dementia are well documented and include improved well-being and quality of life. What is less well known is how best to deliver such activities to make them meaningful for those taking part and, more generally, how to develop good practice guidance for working with this group. This article reports on an observational study of a physical activity programme in a residential care setting, Mobile Me, and on the process used to develop good practice guidance from it, which included input from a range of stakeholders. Learnings from this study conclude that changes in delivery and setting can contribute to a difference in the quality of the experience for participants and their levels of well-being during sessions. The findings from the study were consolidated into four themes for disseminating best practice: promoting the right atmosphere, environment, communication, and adaptations. These form part of a new multimedia best practice guide for delivering physical activities to those living with moderate to advanced dementia.

scholarly journals A more comprehensive approach offering instruments in one portal to facilitate higher uptake

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Rossmann ◽  
F De Bock
Keyword(s):  
Health Promotion ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Community Setting ◽  
Comprehensive Approach ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Assessment Instruments ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Activity Promotion

Abstract The good practice portal of the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) consists of a nationwide collection of projects and interventions to promote the health of socially disadvantaged groups at community/setting level. An exchange platform (inforo) is also offered via the operating agency, although its use is still limited. The results of the evaluation of the platform suggest that the provision of practical projects and exchange of knowledge alone is not sufficient to support policy makers and practitioners who want to promote health in the community/setting. There is a need for advice on needs assessment, selection and appropriate implementation of health promotion measures. A comprehensive approach currently being tested in the field of activity promotion for older people is the provision of a web-based “toolbox” comprising the following tools: assessment instruments for analysing the need for health promotion measures, a user-friendly intervention/project database and broader evidence synthesis documents, as well as information on project management (organisational, legal, financial). Following the example of other best practice portals, a ranking methodology was developed to make the level of effectiveness of interventions visible and the evaluation requirements transparent. Evidence synthesis documents provide an entry point to learn more generally what works in a particular area of health promotion. In order to make the “toolbox” accessible to policy-makers and practitioners, information from previous studies was used in the development with regard to content and graphical presentation. BZgA is currently working on integrating evidence into the good practice portal. The evaluation of the toolbox in a small area of health promotion will provide initial insights into the inclusion of evidence and its added value. This presentation will conclude with a discussion of possibilities for improvement, challenges and limitations of this approach.

scholarly journals Managing energy performance in buildings from design to operation using modelling and calibration

2021 ◽  
pp. 014362442110083
Author(s):  
Nishesh Jain ◽  
Esfand Burman ◽  
Dejan Mumovic ◽  
Mike Davies
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Performance Gap ◽  
Actual Performance ◽  
Simulation Tools ◽  
Calibration Protocol ◽  
Covering Design

To manage the concerns regarding the energy performance gap in buildings, a structured and longitudinal performance assessment of buildings, covering design through to operation, is necessary. Modelling can form an integral part of this process by ensuring that a good practice design stage modelling is followed by an ongoing evaluation of operational stage performance using a robust calibration protocol. In this paper, we demonstrate, via a case study of an office building, how a good practice design stage model can be fine-tuned for operational stage using a new framework that helps validate the causes for deviations of actual performance from design intents. This paper maps the modelling based process of tracking building performance from design to operation, identifying the various types of performance gaps. Further, during the operational stage, the framework provides a systematic way to separate the effect of (i) operating conditions that are driven by the building’s actual function and occupancy as compared with the design assumptions, and (ii) the effect of potential technical issues that cause underperformance. As the identification of issues is based on energy modelling, the process requires use of advanced and well-documented simulation tools. The paper concludes with providing an outline of the software platform requirements needed to generate robust design models and their calibration for operational performance assessments. Practical application The paper’s findings are a useful guide for building industry professionals to manage the performance gap with appropriate accuracy through a robust methodology in an easy to use workflow. The methodological framework to analyse building energy performance in-use links best practice design stage modelling guidance with a robust operational stage investigation. It helps designers, contractors, building managers and other stakeholders with an understanding of procedures to follow to undertake an effective measurement and verification exercise.

scholarly journals Consensus for the General Use of Equine Water Treadmills for Healthy Horses

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 305
Author(s):  
Kathryn Nankervis ◽  
Carolyne Tranquille ◽  
Persephone McCrae ◽  
Jessica York ◽  
Morgan Lashley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Group ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Treadmill Exercise ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Belt Speed ◽  
Research Programmes ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Water Treadmill ◽  
Selection Of

Water treadmill exercise has become popular in recent years for the training and rehabilitation of equine athletes. In 2019, an equine hydrotherapy working group was formed to establish what was commonly considered to be best practice in the use of the modality. This article describes the process by which general guidelines for the application of water treadmill exercise in training and rehabilitation programmes were produced by the working group. The guidelines describe the consensus reached to date on (1) the potential benefits of water treadmill exercise, (2) general good practice in water treadmill exercise, (3) introduction of horses to the exercise, (4) factors influencing selection of belt speed, water depth and duration of exercise, and (5) monitoring movement on the water treadmill. The long-term goal is to reach a consensus on the optimal use of the modality within a training or rehabilitation programme. Collaboration between clinicians, researchers and experienced users is needed to develop research programmes and further guidelines regarding the most appropriate application of the modality for specific veterinary conditions.

scholarly journals Determinants of Managed Entry Agreements in the context of Health Technology Assessment: a comparative analysis of oncology therapies in four countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olina Efthymiadou ◽  
Panos Kanavos
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Health Technology Assessment ◽  
Technology Assessment ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Best Practice Guidelines ◽  
Chi Squared ◽  
Decision Making Factors ◽  
Managed Entry Agreements

Abstract Background Managed Entry Agreements (MEAs) are increasingly used to address uncertainties arising in the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) process due to immature evidence of new, high-cost medicines on their real-world performance and cost-effectiveness. The literature remains inconclusive on the HTA decision-making factors that influence the utilization of MEAs. We aimed to assess if the uptake of MEAs differs between countries and if so, to understand which HTA decision-making criteria play a role in determining such differences. Methods All oncology medicines approved since 2009 in Australia, England, Scotland, and Sweden were studied. Four categories of variables were collected from publicly available HTA reports of the above drugs: (i) Social Value Judgments (SVJs), (ii) Clinical/Economic evidence submitted, (iii) Interpretation of this evidence, and (iv) Funding decision. Conditional/restricted decisions were coded as Listed With Conditions (LWC) other than an MEA or LWC including an MEA (LWCMEA). Cohen's κ-scores measured the inter-rater agreement of countries on their LWCMEA outcomes and Pearson's chi-squared tests explored the association between HTA variables and LWCMEA outcomes. Results A total of 74 drug-indication pairs were found resulting in n = 296 observations; 8 percent (n = 23) were LWC and 55 percent (n = 163) were LWCMEA. A poor-to-moderate agreement existed between countries (−.29 < κ < .33) on LWCMEA decisions. Cross-country differences within the LWCMEA sample were partly driven by economic uncertainties and largely driven by SVJs considered across agencies. Conclusions A set of HTA-related variables driving the uptake of MEAs across countries was identified. These findings can be useful in future research aimed at informing country-specific, “best-practice” guidelines for successful MEA implementation.

scholarly journals Current Developments and Best Practice in Open and Distance Learning

2000 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Armando Rocha Trinidade ◽  
Hermano Carmo ◽  
José Bidarra
Keyword(s):  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Intrinsic Value ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Technical Content ◽  
Support Mechanisms ◽  
The Many ◽  
Absolute Concept ◽  
Near Future

Through the many documents regularly emitted by those dedicated to this activity, it is comparatively easy to describe factual developments in the field of open and distance education in different places in the world. However, it is much more difficult to produce judgements of value about their quality. Quality is a subjective rather than an absolute concept and may be examined from different analytical perspectives: consumers' satisfaction level, intrinsic value of scientific and technical content of learning materials, soundness of learning strategies, efficiency of organisation and procedures, adequate use of advanced technologies, reliability of student support mechanisms, etc. These parameters should be put into the context of specific objectives, nature of target populations and availability of different kinds of resources. In a specific geographic, social, economic and cultural situation a given set of solutions might be judged as adequate and deserving the qualification of "good practice", while in a different context it could be considered of rather poor quality. The selection of examples in this article is the sole responsibility of the authors: neither should the chosen cases be considered as clearly better than any other one, nor missing cases be interpreted as lack of appreciation or a negative judgement. Finally, the authors are aware of the risks of interpreting trends and trying to extrapolate them into the near future: readers should use their own judgement in accepting (or forcefully rejecting) these projections.

scholarly journals The ultrasound unit and infection control – Are we on the right track?

Ultrasound ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan C Westerway ◽  
Jocelyne M Basseal
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Ultrasound Transducers ◽  
Awareness Campaign ◽  
Best Practice Guidelines ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Cleaning Methods ◽  
The Right ◽  
Current Guidelines

Best practice guidelines for the disinfection of ultrasound transducers and infection prevention in ultrasound departments are generally recommended by either government health groups or the ultrasound societies of individual countries. The literature shows a wide variance in not only transducer cleaning methods but basic hygiene practices in the ultrasound workplace. This paper describes results from a UK survey of disinfection of ultrasound transducers and hygiene practice in the workplace. The survey revealed that some ultrasound practitioners did not follow current guidelines with regard to the correct disinfection method of transducers, cords or ultrasound machine keyboards. Furthermore, the survey exposed the lack of training from the product manufacturers on how to use the disinfection product appropriately. These inconsistencies may be responsible for compliance issues and highlight the need for an awareness campaign and a unified approach to infection control by ultrasound practitioners.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document