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ASSESSING THE IMPACTS OF CITIZEN DELIBERATIONS ON THE HEALTH TECHNOLOGY PROCESS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 July 2013

Julia Abelson ,
Yvonne Bombard ,
François-Pierre Gauvin ,
Dorina Simeonov  and
Sarah Boesveld
Julia Abelson
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Yvonne Bombard
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Center for Health Policy & Outcomes, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
François-Pierre Gauvin
Affiliation:
McMaster Health Forum, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Dorina Simeonov
Affiliation:
Health Council of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Sarah Boesveld
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Abstract

Objectives: We assessed the impacts of a Citizens’ Reference Panel on the deliberations of a provincial health technology advisory committee and its secretariat, which produce, recommendations for the use of health technologies in Ontario, Canada.

Methods: A fourteen-member citizens’ reference panel was convened five times between February 2009 and May 2010 to participate in informed, facilitated discussions to inform the assessment of individual technologies and provincial health technology assessment processes more generally. Qualitative data collection methods were used to document observed and perceived impacts of the citizens’ panel on the health technology assessment (HTA) process.

Results: Panel impacts were observed for all technologies reviewed, at two different stages in the HTA process, and represented macro- (raising awareness) and micro-level (informing recommendations) impacts. These impacts were shaped by periodic opportunities for direct and brokered exchange between the Panel and the expert advisory committee to clarify roles, foster accountability, and build trust. Our findings offer new insights about one of the main considerations in the design of deliberative participatory structures—how to maintain the independence of a citizens’ panel while ensuring that their input is considered at key junctures in the HTA process.

Conclusions: Citizens’ panels can exert various impacts on the HTA process. Ensuring these types of structures include opportunities for direct exchange between citizens and experts, to clarify roles, promote accountability, and build trust will facilitate their impacts in a variety of settings.

Keywords

Health technology assessmentPublic engagementPublic involvementDeliberative methodsHealth policyDecision makingSocial values
Type
METHODS
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 29 , Issue 3 , July 2013 , pp. 282 - 289
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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