Knowledge in health technology assessment: who, what, how?

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Health Technology Assessment
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Growing emphasis on patient-centered services in health systems.
• Increasing interest in patient aspects within health policy research and HTA.
• Limited use of scientific methods by HTA agencies to generate patient-specific evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• Critically examine knowledge production in HTA reports.
• Discuss the relevance of different types of knowledge about patient aspects in HTA.
• Analyze a specific Danish HTA on patient education from 2009.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of a Danish HTA report.
• Critical examination of knowledge generation processes.
• Discussion of evidence and relevance concerning patient aspects.

Main Results:

• Few HTA agencies systematically generate patient-specific evidence.
• Questions arise regarding the type and relevance of knowledge produced in HTA.
• The Danish HTA on patient education serves as a case study for examination.

Conclusions:

• HTA needs improved methods for incorporating patient perspectives.
• Further research is required on how patient knowledge is produced and valued in HTA.
• Ensuring the relevance of patient-centered evidence is crucial for effective HTA.