Using health technology assessment to support evidence-based decision-making in Canada: an academic perspective

This paper examines the rationality of the concepts underlying evidence—based medicineand health technology assessment (HTA), which are part of a new current aimed at promoting the use of the results of scientific studies for decision making in health care. It describes the different approaches and purposes of this worldwide movement, in relation to clinical decision making, through a summarized set of specific HTA case studies from Catalonia, Spain. The examples illustrate how the systematic process of HTA can help in several types of uncertainties related to clinical decision making.

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What do we need to know? Data sources to support evidence-based decisions using health technology assessment in Ghana

Health Research Policy and Systems ◽

10.1186/s12961-020-00550-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Samantha A. Hollingworth ◽

Laura Downey ◽

Francis J. Ruiz ◽

Emmanuel Odame ◽

Lydia Dsane-Selby ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Technology Assessment ◽

Technology Assessment ◽

Health Technology ◽

Data Sources ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Support Evidence

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Health technology assessment in Finland

International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care ◽

10.1017/s0266462309090497 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 25 (S1) ◽

pp. 102-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Marjukka Mäkelä ◽

Risto P. Roine

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Health Technology Assessment ◽

Technology Assessment ◽

Health Technology ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Health Technologies ◽

Based Medicine ◽

Special Responsibility ◽

Made In

Since the 1990s, health policy makers in Finland have been supportive of evidence-based medicine and approaches to implement its results. The Finnish Office for Health Technology Assessment (Finohta) has grown from a small start in 1995 to a medium-sized health technology assessment (HTA) agency, with special responsibility in providing assessments to underpin national policies in screening. External evaluations enhanced the rapid growth. In the Finnish environment, decision making on health technologies is extremely decentralized, so Finohta has developed some practical tools for implementing HTA findings. The Managed Uptake of Medical Methods program links the hospital districts to agree on introduction of technologies. The Ohtanen database provides Finnish-language summaries of major assessments made in other countries.

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Documentary Practices of Hospital Librarians in Evidence-based Medicine: the Example of Health Technology Assessment in Swedish Healthcare

Proceedings from the Document Academy ◽

10.35492/docam/8/2/12 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Sara Ahlryd ◽

Fredrik Hanell

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Health Technology Assessment ◽

Technology Assessment ◽

Evidence Based Medicine ◽

Health Technology ◽

Search Process ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Rational Decision Making ◽

New Methods ◽

Based Medicine

Today’s healthcare rely on a basis of evidence-based medicine (EBM) and in modern healthcare there are demands for rational decision-making about new methods, technology and treatments. HTA (Health Technology Assessment) supports decision-making in healthcare and in this study we turn to documentary practices of hospital librarians in HTA, as well as how documentary practices shape and are shaped by the work and roles of hospital librarians. Five central documentary practices were identified as initial searching, negotiating a search strategy, the main searching, making a selection, and documenting the search process. These practices construct the work and roles of hospital librarians through different documents, for example formal guidelines for systematic reviews and various tools used for searching, selecting and documenting the search process.

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Primary data collection in health technology assessment

International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care ◽

10.1017/s0266462307051537 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 24-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Michelle L. McIsaac ◽

Ron Goeree ◽

James M. Brophy

Keyword(s):

Data Collection ◽

Health Technology Assessment ◽

Technology Assessment ◽

Health Technology ◽

Primary Data ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Information Need ◽

Methodological Issues ◽

Additional Information ◽

Evidence Based Decision Making

This study discusses the value of primary data collection as part of health technology assessment (HTA). Primary data collection can help reduce uncertainty in HTA and better inform evidence-based decision making. However, methodological issues such as choosing appropriate study design and practical concerns such as the value of collecting additional information need to be addressed. The authors emphasize the conditions required for successful primary data collection in HTA: experienced researchers, sufficient funding, and coordination among stakeholders, government, and researchers. The authors conclude that, under specific conditions, primary data collection is a worthwhile endeavor in the HTA process.

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