STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT THROUGHOUT HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT: AN EXAMPLE FROM PALLIATIVE CARE

Area of Science:

• Health Technology Assessment (HTA)
• Palliative Care Research
• Stakeholder Engagement

Background:

• International funders mandate stakeholder involvement in HTA.
• HTA requires robust methods for incorporating diverse perspectives.
• Palliative care presents complex needs requiring broad input.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate successes, challenges, and lessons learned from extensive stakeholder involvement in a palliative care HTA case study.
• To demonstrate new concepts and methods for integrating stakeholders throughout the HTA process.
• To assess the feasibility and value of multi-stage stakeholder engagement.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the 5-step INTEGRATE-HTA Model for a palliative care case study across seven countries.
• Engaged 132 diverse stakeholders through qualitative research and consultation meetings.
• Employed various methods including interviews, meetings (face-to-face, telephone, Skype), and a mock decision-making exercise.

Main Results:

• Stakeholders provided valuable contributions across all HTA stages, including defining interventions, informing evidence collection, and assessing applicability.
• International views on optimal stakeholder involvement methods vary.
• Key challenges identified include ensuring inclusivity, managing time, and optimizing resource allocation.

Conclusions:

• Stakeholder involvement throughout HTA is feasible and beneficial, yielding unique insights.
• Diverse methods exist for stakeholder inclusion, but challenges related to inclusivity and resources persist.
• Further recognition of stakeholder expertise and development of consultation guidance are necessary for advancing HTA practices.