Can We Afford to Exclude Patients Throughout Health Technology Assessment?

Area of Science:

• Health Technology Assessment (HTA)
• Patient Engagement in Healthcare
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Health technology assessment (HTA) aims to determine the value of health technologies and bridge research with practice.
• Understanding patient and health professional values is crucial for effective knowledge transfer and managing end-user expectations.
• Patient and patient advocacy groups play a significant role in shaping healthcare technology adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the roles of patients and patient advocacy groups in the health technology assessment (HTA) process.
• To advocate for stronger partnerships and co-creation between HTA professionals, researchers, and patient advocates.
• To emphasize the importance of patient values and experiences in democratizing evidence and enhancing HTA legitimacy.

Main Methods:

• Gathering insights from patient and patient group leader experiences.
• Analyzing the potential for partnerships and co-creation in the HTA process.
• Reviewing the use of patient preference studies and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

Main Results:

• Patient involvement strengthens the HTA process and aligns it with person-centered care and shared decision-making.
• Patient experiences and knowledge are vital for democratizing evidence and ensuring HTA legitimacy.
• A cultural shift towards greater patient involvement in all stages of HTA is occurring.

Conclusions:

• Patients have a right to be involved in HTA, with their values central to decision-making.
• Integrating patient insights can evolve HTA methodologies and ensure recommendations benefit patients and communities.
• Evaluating HTA recommendation implementation is key to understanding its impact on patients.