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User-experience testing of an evidence-to-decision framework for selecting essential medicines
Thomas Piggott1,2, Lorenzo Moja3, Carlos A Cuello Garcia1
1Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
PLOS Global Public Health
|January 11, 2024
Summary
Essential medicine lists (EMLs) can be strengthened using Evidence-to-Decision (EtD) frameworks and visual abstracts. These tools enhance transparency and efficiency in prioritizing medicines for global health access.
Area of Science:
- Health Policy
- Evidence Synthesis
- Health Economics
Background:
- Essential Medicine Lists (EMLs) are critical for global medicine prioritization, utilized by the WHO and over 130 countries.
- The World Health Organization's (WHO) Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines employs criteria similar to GRADE Evidence-to-Decision (EtD) frameworks.
- Improving transparency and evidence integration in EML selection is crucial for achieving universal health coverage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the utility of Evidence-to-Decision (EtD) frameworks and visual abstracts as supplementary tools for Essential Medicine List (EML) applications.
- To assess user experience and identify improvements for integrating EtD frameworks and visual abstracts into the EML selection process.
Main Methods:
- User-experience testing interviews were conducted with key EML stakeholders (13 respondents) using Morville's honeycomb model.
- Thematic analysis was applied to 17 interview transcripts to iteratively refine the EtD framework and visual abstract.
- Two specific EML applications (long-acting insulin analogues and immune checkpoint inhibitors) were used as case studies.
Main Results:
- Stakeholders found EtD frameworks and visual abstracts to be useful, findable, and complementary to traditional EML applications.
- These tools were perceived to increase transparency and efficiency in the evidence assessment process for EML committees.
- 'Availability' was identified and added as a key criterion, aligning with WHO EML selection principles.
Conclusions:
- EtD frameworks and visual abstracts are valuable tools for enhancing evidence communication and decision-making in EML applications.
- Adopting EtD frameworks can align EML processes with health practice guidelines, reducing duplication and improving coordination.
- Strengthening EML development with robust, transparent, and evidence-based methods is essential for global health impact and access to medicines.
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