GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR GOOD PRACTICES IN HOSPITAL-BASED HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT UNITS.

Area of Science:

• Health Policy
• Health Technology Assessment
• Hospital Management

Background:

• Health technology assessment (HTA) principles are established for policy but differ for hospital-based HTA (HB-HTA).
• HB-HTA operates within unique hospital contexts, necessitating specific operational guidelines.
• This research addresses the need for defined good practice principles tailored to HB-HTA units.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a set of guiding principles for good practices in hospital-based HTA units.
• To establish a benchmark for the ideal performance of HB-HTA units.
• To identify essential requirements for effective HB-HTA operations.

Main Methods:

• A framework for good practice criteria was developed using the EFQM excellence model.
• Data was gathered through extensive literature reviews, interviews, case studies, surveys, focus groups, and Delphi surveys.
• A total of 385 participants from twenty countries contributed to defining the HB-HTA principles.

Main Results:

• Fifteen guiding principles for good practices in HB-HTA units were identified, categorized into four dimensions.
• Dimension 1: Assessment process for contextualized hospital decision-making.
• Dimension 2: Leadership, strategy, and partnerships; Dimension 3: Adequate resources; Dimension 4: Performance impact measurement.
• Nine core guiding principles were selected as essential requirements based on expert consensus.

Conclusions:

• The proposed guiding principles establish a benchmark for HB-HTA performance.
• Contextual adaptation of these principles is crucial for their applicability in local hospital settings.
• These principles aim to enhance the effectiveness and impact of HB-HTA units.