Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T20:17:01.088Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT ON THE AUSTRIAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2012

Ines Schumacher  and
Ingrid Zechmeister
Ines Schumacher
Affiliation:
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives: In Austria, research in health technology assessment (HTA) has been conducted since the 1990s. The aim of this study is to analyze whether the HTA research program of the Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA) and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for HTA (LBI-HTA) have had an impact on the Austrian healthcare system.

Methods: We applied qualitative and quantitative empirical research methods, such as interviewing, download analysis, questionnaire, retrospective routine data analysis, and media analysis. Data were analyzed according to a conceptual framework, considering seven impact categories (awareness, acceptance, process, decision, practice, final outcomes, enlightenment) and different target groups.

Results: A rising number of downloads and single HTA reports with high media interest were identified. Interviews showed that HTA reports have increasingly been used for investment and reimbursement decisions, as well as for the preparation of negotiations. Economic impact was indicated by decreased expenditures due to HTA recommendations. Overall, knowledge about evidence-based medicine increased and, in places, an “HTA culture” can be recognized. Yet, several decision-making processes occur at all levels without the use of HTA.

Conclusions: The analysis demonstrated an impact within all predefined categories; however, it depends on the system level and its target groups. HTA reports are primarily used by hospital management, (social) insurances, and the Austrian Ministry of Health. Nevertheless, there is still potential to increase the impact of HTA. Therefore, the inclusion of HTA in decision-making processes in Austria needs to move from a voluntary basis to a mandatory one.

Keywords

Health technology assessmentImpactEvaluationAustria
Type
POLICIES
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 29 , Issue 1 , January 2013 , pp. 84 - 91
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.Schumacher, I, Zechmeister, I. [How can the impact of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in the Austrian healthcare system be assessed? Design of a conceptual framework]. Gesundheitswesen. 2012;74:257–65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Zechmeister, I, Schumacher, I. The impact of health technology assessment reports on decision making in Austria. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2012;28:77–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Schumacher, I, Zechmeister, I. Impact from HTA-research for the Austrian Health Care System. Part 1: Overview - Update. Vienna: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment; 2010.Google Scholar
4.Gerhardus, A. Konzepte und Methoden zur Erhebung des Einflusses von HTA-Berichten auf das Gesundheitswesen. Hannover: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover; 2005.Google Scholar
5.Gerhardus, A, Dorendorf, E, Rottingen, J, et al.What are the effects of HTA reports on the health system? Evidence from the research literature. In: Velasco Garrido, M, Kristensen, F, Palmhoj Nielsen, C, et al., eds. Health Technology Assessment in Health Policy Making in Europe: Current Status, Challenges and Potential Observatory Studies. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2008:109–36.Google Scholar
6.Weiss, C. The many meanings of research utilization. Public Adm Rev. 1979;39:426–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Schumacher, I, Zechmeister, I. Impact from HTA-research for the Austrian Health Care System. Part 2: Results of the Empirical Survey. Vienna: Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Health Technology Assessment; 2011.Google Scholar
8.Gläser, J, Laudel, G. Experteninterviews und qualitative Inhaltsanalyse. 3. überarbeitete Auflage. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften; 2009.Google Scholar
9.Mayring, P. Qualitative Inhaltsanalyse. Grundlagen und Techniken. 10. Auflage. Weinheim: Beltz 2008.Google Scholar
10.Hailey, D. A preliminary survey on the influence of rapid health technology assessments. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2009;25:415–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Oliver, A, Mossialos, E, Robinson, R, et al.Health Technology Assessment and its influence on health-care priority setting. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2004;20:1–10.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.White, J. The rapid adoption of Health Technology Assessment in middle income countries - what influence does it have on pharmaceutical reimbursement. Results from a survey of health care decision-makers in 11 countries. Value Health. 2009;12:A245.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Axelsson, S, Helgason, AR, Lund, KE, et al.Disseminating evidence from Health Technology Assessment: the case of tobacco prevention. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2006;22:500–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Dietrich, ES. Effects of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's technology appraisals on prescribing and net ingredient costs of drugs in the National Health Service in England. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2009;25:262–71.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Kolasa, K. The role of HTA agency in drug reimbursement decision making process in Poland (HTA IMPT). Value Health. 2009;12:A251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16.Sepulveda, B, Horowicz-Mehler, N, Doyle, JJ. The effects of NICE HTAs on prescription volume, average retail price and average out-of-pocket costs of drugs deemed medically necessary for Medicare part D reimbursement in the United States. Value Health. 2008;11:A376–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17.Alanen, S, Johannala-Kemppainen, R, Ijäs, JJ, et al.Evaluation of current care effectiveness: a survey of hypertension guideline implementation in Finnish health centres. Scand J Prim Health Care. 2007;25:232–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18.Gagnon, MP, Sanchez, E, Pons, JM. From recommendation to action: psychosocial factors influencing physician intention to use Health Technology Assessment (HTA) recommendations. Implement Sci. 2006;1:8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19.Gagnon, MP, Sanchez, E, Pons, JM, et al.Integration of health technology assessment recommendations into organizational and clinical practice: a case study in Catalonia. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2006;22:169–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20.Bodeau-Livinec, F, Simon, E, Montagnier-Petrissans, C, et al.Impact of CEDIT recommendations: an example of Health Technology Assessment in a hospital network. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2006;22:161–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21.McGregor, M, Brophy, JM. End-user involvement in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) development: a way to increase impact. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2005;21:263–7.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22.Blancquaert, I. Managing partnerships and impact on decision-making: the example of Health Technology Assessment in genetics. Community Genet. 2006;9:27–33.Google ScholarPubMed
23.Oortwijn, WJ, Hanney, SR, Ligtvoet, A, et al.Assessing the impact of health technology assessment in The Netherlands. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2008;24:259–69.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24.Raftery, J, Hanney, S, Green, C, et al.Assessing the impact of England's National Health Service R&D Health Technology Assessment program using the “payback” approach. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2009;25:1–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25.Rubinstein, A, Belizán, M, Discacciati, V. Are economic evaluations and Health Technology Assessments increasingly demanded in times of rationing health services? The case of the Argentine financial crisis. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2007;23:169–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed