scholarly journals Quality of the Curriculum of Health Technology Assessment Master Program in Iran

Author(s):  
Zahra Heydari fard ◽  
Mitra Zolfaghari ◽  
Bahareh Yazdizadeh

Objective: It is essential to improve the educational curriculum over time. This study aims to evaluate the quality of the health technology assessment (HTA) curriculum in Iran. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in three groups of professors, students, and graduates of HTA by the census. The data needed for this purpose were collected using a specific questionnaire. Finally, descriptive and analytical statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Of 127 individuals, 114 ones responded to the study (response rate = 89%). The quality of the curriculum in terms of design elements in the core courses and the elements of the executive courses in the curriculum are in the range of medium to medium-to-optimal (1.66< mean> 2.32 to mean> 2.32, respectively). Also, the majority of the elements of the core courses and design elements are from compensatory courses in an unfavorable to moderate (1.66> mean to 1.66< mean> 2.32, respectively). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that there was no significant problem in most design elements of the curriculum sections. However, there are some challenges in some elements of the operation. Therefore, it is suggested madding some changes to correct inappropriate elements. To achieve this objective, it is necessary to investigate the interests of other stakeholders involved in this field and thus enhance the quality of the curriculum. Implementing the proposed proposals and reviewing the curriculum studied can be considered as an important step to improve the HTA curriculum in Iran.

2011 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 198-205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Bosi Ferraz ◽  
Patricia Coelho de Soárez ◽  
Paola Zucchi

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES: The health technology assessment (HTA) process has been developed locally. The aim of this study was to describe, analyze and compare the opinions of participants in international health economics symposia about the HTA process used in Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Observational cross-sectional study at the 2006 and 2008 International Health Economics Symposia, in São Paulo. METHODS: A structured questionnaire was applied. For the statistical analysis, the percentage distribution for each category was calculated, and variables were compared using tests for two-sample proportion hypotheses. RESULTS: Totals of 153 and 74 participants answered the 2006 and 2008 surveys, respectively. The response rate was better for the 2006 survey (67.1%) than for the 2008 survey (31.8%). Most interviewees were between the ages of 30 and 49 years and were managers in the healthcare system. Most of them considered that the current HTA process was incomplete and unable to meet the needs of the healthcare system. They mentioned the government, academia and experts as the three main groups of people who should be involved in the process, and selected efficiency/effectiveness, safety and disease relevance as the three main criteria to be considered in the HTA process. There is a trend towards developing decentralized regionalized HTA processes, with separate assessment and decision-making for the public and private systems. CONCLUSIONS: The HTA concept is well known. Healthcare system players feel that the process has methodological limitations. Additional surveys are needed to track the HTA process and its application in Brazil.


Author(s):  
Matheus O. de Almeida ◽  
Thais Montezuma ◽  
Haliton A. de Oliveira Júnior ◽  
Cleusa Pinheiro Ferri

Abstract Introduction Mini health technology assessment (HTA) reports have been used to support policy makers and health systems by providing a timely summary of scientific evidence. The objective of this meta-epidemiologic study was to evaluate the quality of reporting of mini-HTA reports published in Brazil. Methods An electronic search for all mini-HTA reports published between 2014 and March 2019 was conducted in the SISREBRATS and CONITEC databases. The study selection and data extraction were performed by two independent assessors. The following data were extracted: bibliographic data; research question; characteristics of the population, health technologies and outcomes assessed; eligibility criteria; information about searches and study selection; risk of bias assessment; quality of evidence assessment; synthesis of results; and recommendation about the technology evaluated. A descriptive analysis was used to summarize the information retrieved from all the included mini-HTA reports. Results We included 103 mini-HTA reports, the great majority of which (92.3 percent) focused on the coverage of the technologies in the healthcare system, with more than 60 percent being about drugs. Only five mini-HTA reports (4.8 percent) gave reasons for the choice of outcomes, and fifteen (14.5 percent) discriminated between primary and secondary outcomes. All mini-HTAs reported the databases searched and 99 percent of them reported using Medline. Sixty percent of the mini-HTA reported assessing the risk of bias, and 52 percent reported assessing the quality of evidence. Conclusion The quality of reporting of the mini-HTA reports performed in Brazil is insufficient and needs to be improved to guarantee transparency and replicability.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (S1) ◽  
pp. 66-66
Author(s):  
Ruth Louise Poole ◽  
Sophie Hughes ◽  
Lauren Elston ◽  
Susan Myles

IntroductionHealth Technology Wales (HTW) is a relatively new Health Technology Assessment (HTA) agency which focuses on non-medicines. In common with other HTA organizations, it identifies and appraises a range of technologies. However, HTW is also looking beyond the publication of guidance, to assess the adoption of advice and its eventual impact.MethodsHTW commissioned development of an Evaluation Plan from independent experts (Matter of Focus). A literature review was carried out to inform an options appraisal of methods for assessing impact. The selected approach was Contribution Analysis, which estimates the counterfactual through engagement of stakeholders.ResultsWhilst it is too early to report the full impact of HTW's guidance, a number of activities have taken place to prepare for evaluation. The core HTW team developed a series of logic models to describe the anticipated impact, the mechanisms by which it would be achieved, and key assumptions. Stakeholders were consulted for insight from a range of perspectives, and to manage expectations. This was achieved through individual interviews, presentation and discussion at committee meetings, and the sharing of written materials for feedback. This information was collated to populate bespoke software (OutNav). The collection of data relating to processes, outputs and outcomes is already an ongoing routine task of researchers and support staff.ConclusionsHTW has an opportunity to build impact evaluation into its culture from the beginning. This will facilitate the future reporting of HTW's influence using a well-designed, evidence-based approach. Furthermore, this pioneering work will clearly demonstrate the value of HTA to funders, commissioners, governments, and other decision-making bodies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 63-64
Author(s):  
Ines Niehaus ◽  
Charalabos-Markos Dintsios

INTRODUCTION:The early benefit assessment of drugs in Germany and their preceded market authorization pursue different objectives, resulting in divergent decision-making strategies. This is reflected inter alia by the diverse inclusion of confirmatory endpoints within the assessments of oncological drugs. The pharmaceutical manufacturers are facing the challenge of meeting the requirements for both evaluation processes by the available evidence and avoiding hereby negative early benefit assessments. This is mainly due to the concept of mutually relevant clinical trials.METHODS:Identification and gathering of the endpoints is based on a specifically developed guide. The extracted data from the documents of completed assessments up to July 2015 are used to estimate both separately and together the impact of explorative in relation to confirmatory endpoints on the drug approval and early benefit assessment, by contrasting the European Medicines Agency's risk-benefit-ratio and the benefit-harm-balancing of the national Health Technology Assessment (HTA) jurisdiction.RESULTS:Twenty-one of fourty-one studies’ oncological assessments could be included in the endpoint analysis. From a procedural point of view both the drug approval and the early benefit assessment seem to be not confirmatory since they include explorative endpoints as well. Yet, drug approval is in terms of quality of endpoints more confirmatory than early benefit assessment since it contains a higher proportion of primary endpoints. The latter implies only in 67 percent of the assessments a primary endpoint to be relevant for the benefit-harm-balancing. Moreover, explorative mortality endpoints reached the highest agreement and explorative endpoints capturing health-related quality of life no agreement, referring to the mutual relevance of endpoints for the risk-benefit-ratio and the benefit-harm-balancing.CONCLUSIONS:The missing information transparency of the assessment reports compared to the information offered within the early benefit assessment makes an assignment of endpoints with respect to the mutually relevant clinical trial sometimes troublesome. To warrant, in the long run, a broader confirmatory basis for decisions in health care supported by HTA, a closer inter-institutional cooperation of approval authorities and German HTA jurisdictions seems favorable.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 59-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Chiumente ◽  
Iñaki Gutiérrez-Ibarluzea ◽  
Jani Mueller

INTRODUCTION:Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary activity that systematically examines different dimensions related to the direct and indirect consequences of health technologies when implemented in healthcare systems. HTA is developed by multidisciplinary teams in order to cover all the mentioned dimensions. However, the quality of the processes produced by HTA teams will depend upon the competencies that those teams will acquire and incorporate including knowledge, skills and attitudes (1). The aim of this research was to determine how well these dimensions and competencies are covered in HTA academic Masters degree courses and manuals.METHODS:We analyzed what had been done in terms of competencies definition in HTA: how it has been reflected; theoretically and according to the authors, and how competencies can be structured; know-how and values. We explored HTA manuals and HTA academic Masters degree courses. We searched in Google with specific terms: building capacities, HTA, programs, Masters, diplomas. We used the HTAi vortal and the information related to courses (for example Masters degrees) and HTA agencies and network webpages for programs. The inclusion criteria were formal programs that describe HTA capacity building and not partial teaching of certain aspects of HTA and we excluded non-recognized institutions, or where there was no description of the programs or lack of detail regarding objectives and competencies to be achieved.RESULTS:We found 105 courses or programs and analyzed 8 reports and 3 manuals. The main challenges that we faced were: that information was difficult to retrieve, not similarly structured, difficulties to find key information in webpages, no program description at all in some cases and the need to contact institutions staff or register as a student to receive the information and finally, it was difficult to obtain contact details of key people. We structured the information on competencies in knowledge, skills and attitudes.CONCLUSIONS:The analyzed Masters degree courses and manuals did not cover all of the dimensions of HTA analysis in an equal and standardized way. The ethical, legal, social and organizational aspects were lacking in some of the programs, while, on the contrary, clinical and economic aspects were substantially included. On the basis of the information retrieved it would be good to define core competencies for HTA.


Author(s):  
Carlo Efisio Marras ◽  
Gabriella Colicchio ◽  
Luca De Palma ◽  
Alessandro De Benedictis ◽  
Giancarlo Di Gennaro ◽  
...  

Background: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a palliative treatment for medical intractable epileptic syndromes not eligible for resective surgery. Health technology assessment (HTA) represents a modern approach to the analysis of technologies used for healthcare. The purpose of this study is to assess the clinical, organizational, financial, and economic impact of VNS therapy in drug-resistant epilepsies and to establish the congruity between costs incurred and health service reimbursement. Methods: The present study used an HTA approach. It is based on an extensive detailed bibliographic search on databases (Medline, Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane, sites of scientific societies and institutional sites). The HTA study includes the following issues: (a) social impact and costs of the disease; (b) VNS eligibility and clinical results; (c) quality of life (QoL) after VNS therapy; (d) economic impact and productivity regained after VNS; and (e) costs of VNS. Results: Literature data indicate VNS as an effective treatment with a potential positive impact on social aspects and on quality of life. The diagnosis-related group (DRG) financing, both on national and regional levels, does not cover the cost of the medical device. There was an evident insufficient coverage of the DRG compared to the full cost of implanting the device. Conclusions: VNS is a palliative treatment for reducing seizure frequency and intensity. Despite its economic cost, VNS should improve patients’ quality of life and reduce care needs.


2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (02) ◽  
pp. 113-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine L. Gooch ◽  
Douglas Smith ◽  
Tracy Wasylak ◽  
Peter D. Faris ◽  
Deborah A. Marshall ◽  
...  

Background:The Alberta Hip and Knee Replacement Project developed a new evidence-based clinical pathway (NCP) for total hip (THR) and knee (TKR) replacement. The aim was to facilitate the delivery of services in a timely and cost-effective manner while achieving the highest quality of care for the patient across the full continuum of care from patient referral to an orthopedic surgeon through surgery, recovery, and rehabilitation. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the study design, rationale, and execution of this project as a model for health technology assessment based on comparative effectiveness of alternative clinical pathways.Methods:A pragmatic randomized controlled trial study design was used to evaluate the NCP compared with the standard of care (SOC) for these procedures. The pragmatic study design was selected as a rigorous approach to produce high quality evidence suitable for informing decisions between relevant interventions in real clinical practice. The NCP was evaluated in three of the nine regional health authorities (RHAs) in Alberta with dedicated central intake clinics offering multidisciplinary care teams, constituting 80 percent of THR and TKR surgeries performed annually in Alberta. Patients were identified in the offices of twenty orthopedic surgeons who routinely performed THR or TKR surgeries. Evaluation outcome measures were based on the six dimensions of the Alberta Quality Matrix for Health (AQMH): acceptability, accessibility, appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency and safety. Data were collected prospectively through patient self-completed questionnaires at baseline and 3 and 12 months after surgery, ambulatory and inpatient chart reviews, and electronic administrative data.Results:The trial design was successful in establishing similar groups for rigorous evaluation. Of the 4,985 patients invited to participate, 69 percent of patients consented. A total of 3,434 patients were randomized: 1,712 to SOC and 1,722 to the NCP. The baseline characteristics of patients in the two study arms, including demographics, comorbidity as measured by CDS and exposure to pain medications, and health-related quality of life, as measured by Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Short Form-36, were similar.Conclusions:The Alberta Hip and Knee Replacement Project demonstrates the feasibility and advantages of applying a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to ascertain comparative effectiveness. This is a model for health technology assessment that incorporates how clinical pathways can be effectively evaluated.


2010 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mark Gibson ◽  
Alison Little

In the article “Are key principles for improved health technology assessment supported and used by health technology assessment organizations?” by Neumann et al. (3), the authors set out to evaluate the quality of processes used by health technology assessment (HTA) programs based on a set of principles they published in this journal previously (2). We believe that portions of the current article, as they relate to our own organization, are misleading or inaccurate, and welcome this opportunity to correct the inaccuracies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 271-278
Author(s):  
Marcin Kautsch

HB-HTA system implementation based on the model with the coordinating role of hospital The article presents the concept of the HB-HTA (Hospital-Based Health Technology Assessment) project implementation as one of the options for implementing HB-HTA in Poland. The model involves the creation of structures in selected hospitals dealing with the assessment of technologies that would be implemented in the units. The model is characterized by a small number of stakeholders and their interests do not conflict with one another. The basic condition for the success of the project is the reimbursement of the mentioned technologies, which would allow financing the described activities. The implementation of the project requires, above all, specialized staff (already present on the market), supported by appropriate technical and organizational solutions. The implementation of the project in the proposed version should bring benefits in the entire healthcare system – im­proved access to services, as well as improved quality of hospital management and improved financial results of the hospitals and the system itself.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e052049
Author(s):  
Christine Mpundu-Kaambwa ◽  
Gang Chen ◽  
Kim Dalziel ◽  
Nancy Devlin ◽  
Julie Ratcliffe

IntroductionMeasures of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), accompanied by the values (or utilities) required to estimate quality-adjusted life-years, are crucial for determining health benefits within economic evaluation and health technology assessment. Several generic and condition-specific measures or instruments of HRQoL, accompanied by values, currently exist for application with child populations. However, there is a lack of a structured summary of guidelines and recommendations for applying these measures in practice. This protocol describes a systematic review of guidelines and recommendations for child and proxy completion of child-specific measures of HRQoL. The aims of the review are to (1) identify and summarise published guidelines and recommendations for existing child-specific measures of HRQoL, (2) determine whether the identified guidelines and recommendations differ by instrument and child characteristics, (3) identify current gaps in these guidelines and recommendations and (4) identify best practices for child self and proxy assessment in paediatric HRQoL measurement for economic evaluation and health technology assessment.Methods and analysisThe review will identify, collate and synthesise published guidelines and recommendations for existing child-specific utility measures of HRQoL. Electronic databases to be searched include the Cochrane Library, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, EconLit, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase and Informit. The search will be extended to websites of (1) international organisations for health technology assessment, (2) regulation, health economics and HRQoL outcomes research and (3) instrument developers. Three reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts against the inclusion criteria. A narrative synthesis will describe the key features of the guidelines identified.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required as the proposed systematic review will not use primary data. A paper of the systematic review will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020207160.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document