Osteba Basque Office for Health Technology Assessment, Basque Country, Spain.
Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2012 Jul;28(3):301-7. doi: 10.1017/S0266462312000360.
Early awareness and alert (EAA) activities are increasingly recognized to be an important component of the health technology assessment (HTA) process. Sharing information on methods used in this discipline is vital to ensure the development of sustainable systems. The objectives of this study is to outline the approach taken to share the different methods that members of the EuroScan International Network use by producing a methods toolkit; and to provide an overview of the similarities and differences in methods adopted by EAA systems.
A Delphi technique was used to develop the methods toolkit. Structured questionnaires were used to identify the sources used in the identification of emerging technologies and to determine the methods used by agencies to carry out EAA activities.
A methods toolkit incorporating guidance on all of the stages described by EuroScan members was produced. The toolkit and an accompanying checklist presents users with different methods that can be adopted to suit their needs. The comparative analysis demonstrates that different methods are being used by EAA systems dependent on resources available and customer requirements. Differences in identification, filtration, prioritization, and assessment are apparent along with the role of collaborators in these processes.
The methods used by EAA systems are not homogeneous resulting in a toolkit constructed on the basis of "one size doesn't fit all." Methods in this discipline are developing continually to accommodate changes in health systems and the HTA world. Differences between agencies and the sharing of ideas and experiences enable EAA agencies to adapt to these developments.
早期预警（EAA）活动越来越被认为是健康技术评估（HTA）过程的重要组成部分。分享该学科使用的方法信息对于确保可持续系统的发展至关重要。本研究的目的是通过制作方法工具包，概述 EuroScan 国际网络成员共享不同方法的方法；并概述 EAA 系统采用的方法的相似之处和不同之处。
使用 Delphi 技术开发方法工具包。使用结构化问卷来确定用于识别新兴技术的来源，并确定机构用于开展 EAA 活动的方法。
制作了一个包含 EuroScan 成员描述的所有阶段的指导意见的方法工具包。该工具包和配套的清单为用户提供了不同的方法，可以根据他们的需求采用。比较分析表明，不同的 EAA 系统根据可用资源和客户需求使用不同的方法。在识别、过滤、优先级和评估方面存在差异，以及合作者在这些过程中的作用。
EAA 系统使用的方法并不统一，导致基于“一刀切”的原则构建了一个工具包。该学科的方法在不断发展，以适应卫生系统和 HTA 世界的变化。机构之间的差异以及思想和经验的共享使 EAA 机构能够适应这些发展。
