Department for Health Evidence, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Int J Health Policy Manag. 2020 Jan 1;9(1):27-33. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2019.72.
Evidence-informed deliberative processes (EDPs) were recently introduced to guide health technology assessment (HTA) agencies to improve their processes towards more legitimate decision-making. The EDP framework provides guidance that covers the HTA process, ie, contextual factors, installation of an appraisal committee, selecting health technologies and criteria, assessment, appraisal, and communication and appeal. The aims of this study were to identify the level of use of EDPs by HTA agencies, identify their needs for guidance, and to learn about best practices.
A questionnaire for an online survey was developed based on the EDP framework, consisting of elements that reflect each part of the framework. The survey was sent to members of the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA). Two weeks following the invitation, a reminder was sent. The data collection took place between September-December 2018.
Contact persons from 27 member agencies filled out the survey (response rate: 54%), of which 25 completed all questions. We found that contextual factors to support HTA development and the critical elements regarding conducting and reporting on HTA are overall in place. Respondents indicated that guidance was needed for specific elements related to selecting technologies and criteria, appraisal, and communication and appeal. With regard to best practices, the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, UK) were most often mentioned.
This is the first survey among HTA agencies regarding the use of EDPs and provides useful information for further developing a practical guide for HTA agencies around the globe. The results could support HTA agencies in improving their processes towards more legitimate decision-making, as they could serve as a baseline measurement for future monitoring and evaluation.
循证决策程序（EDP）最近被引入，旨在指导卫生技术评估（HTA）机构改进其程序，以实现更具合法性的决策。EDP 框架提供了涵盖 HTA 过程的指导，即背景因素、评估委员会的设立、卫生技术和标准的选择、评估、评估以及沟通和申诉。本研究旨在确定 HTA 机构使用 EDP 的程度，确定他们对指导的需求，并了解最佳实践。
根据 EDP 框架开发了一份在线调查的问卷，问卷由反映框架每个部分的要素组成。该调查发送给国际卫生技术评估机构网络（INAHTA）的成员。邀请发出两周后，会发送提醒。数据收集于 2018 年 9 月至 12 月进行。
27 个成员机构的联络人填写了调查（回应率：54%），其中 25 人完成了所有问题。我们发现，支持 HTA 发展的背景因素和关于进行和报告 HTA 的关键要素总体上已经到位。受访者表示，在选择技术和标准、评估以及沟通和申诉方面，需要指导。关于最佳实践，加拿大药品和技术评估局和英国国家卫生与保健优化研究所（NICE）被提及最多。
这是首次对 HTA 机构使用 EDP 进行的调查，为进一步为全球 HTA 机构制定实用指南提供了有用信息。结果可以帮助 HTA 机构改进其程序，以实现更具合法性的决策，因为它们可以作为未来监测和评估的基线测量。
