International overview of health technology assessment training tools and materials for patients and consumers

The study, conducted by the French National Authority for Health (HAS), aimed to identify available online health technology assessment (HTA) training tools for patients, specifically those used by HTA bodies (HTAbs) and major selected European and international patient and consumer groups (PCGs), to inform an HTA training approach for HAS.

A literature search, a review of selected websites, semi-structured interviews with HTAbs and patient groups, and discussion within a dedicated working group to help target the needs and preferences of patients and consumers were conducted. Online HTA training tools relating to HTA and patient and public involvement (PPI), published or translated into English or French, were included in the study results.

Eighty-two online HTA training tools for patients and consumers were selected according to the specified inclusion criteria coming from sixteen international HTAbs, nine European and international PCGs, and thirteen other organizations. Two main categories emerged: the first relating to HTA and the second relating to PPI in HTA. The formats of these tools ranged from interactive and non-interactive formats with varying accessibility and assessment methods. No journal articles mentioned explicitly the content and format of PCG training tools.

This research served as a basis for HAS to develop their own HTA training tools and materials for patients and consumers. Two training tools were subsequently developed, guided by the needs and preferences of a patient and consumer working group, and were published on the HAS website in November 2022.