The international HTA database returned incomplete search results for NICE technology appraisals: An exploratory study and discussion of the implications.

INTRODUCTION

The International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA) database offers a single point of access for identifying technology appraisals, in contrast to searching multiple websites directly. The aim of this research is to compare the coverage of the INAHTA and Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) databases with direct searching on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) website to identify Technology Appraisals published by NICE.

METHODS

NICE Technology Appraisals were downloaded from the NICE website (April 2022). Technology Appraisals were randomized and the first 20 Technology Appraisals constituted data for analysis. The INAHTA and CRD HTA databases were searched to determine if the 20 Technology Appraisals available on the NICE website were also available for retrieval.

RESULTS

Coverage was incomplete. INAHTA: 15 of 20 Technology Appraisals (75%) were not identified via full title or intervention-specific searches. CRD HTA: 7 of 12 Technology Appraisals (58%) that were published before the last update of the database were not identified.

CONCLUSION

Findings indicate that researchers seeking to identify NICE Technology Appraisals should search the NICE website directly. How this finding impacts identification of guidance from other agencies should be evaluated.