Best-worst scaling to assess the most important barriers and facilitators for the use of health technology assessment in Austria

Chiara Feig, Kei Long Cheung, Mickael Hiligsmann, Silvia M. A. A. Evers, Judit Simon, Susanne Mayer*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: Although Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is increasingly used to support evidence-based decision-making in health care, several barriers and facilitators for the use of HTA have been identified. This best-worst scaling (BWS) study aims to assess the relative importance of selected barriers and facilitators of the uptake of HTA studies in Austria.Methods: A BWS object case survey was conducted among 37 experts in Austria to assess the relative importance of HTA barriers and facilitators. Hierarchical Bayes estimation was applied, with the best-worst count analysis as sensitivity analysis. Subgroup analyses were also performed on professional role and HTA experience.Results: The most important barriers were lack of transparency in the decision-making process', fragmentation', absence of appropriate incentives', no explicit framework for decision-making process', and insufficient legal support'. The most important facilitators were transparency in the decision-making process', availability of relevant HTA research for policy makers', availability of explicit framework for decision-making process', sufficient legal support', and appropriate incentives'.Conclusion: This study suggests that HTA barriers and facilitators related to the context of decision makers, especially policy characteristics' and organization and resources' are the most important in Austria. A transparent and participatory decision-making process could improve the adoption of HTA evidence.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)223-232
Number of pages10
JournalExpert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research
Volume18
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2018

Keywords

  • Health technology assessment
  • barriers
  • facilitators
  • best-worst scaling
  • decision-making
  • stakeholders
  • DISCRETE-CHOICE EXPERIMENTS
  • DECISION-MAKING
  • ECONOMIC EVALUATIONS
  • TASK-FORCE
  • CARE
  • PREFERENCES
  • COUNTRIES

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