Beyond clinical and cost-effectiveness: the contribution of qualitative research to health technology assessment

Germeni, E. and Szabo, S. (2023) Beyond clinical and cost-effectiveness: the contribution of qualitative research to health technology assessment. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 39(1), e23. (doi: 10.1017/S0266462323000211) (PMID:37092753)

Abstract

Recent developments in health technology assessment (HTA), including the promotion of a new and internationally accepted definition of HTA, have highlighted the need to go beyond clinical and cost-effectiveness to fully understand the potential value of health technologies. Multidisciplinary efforts to generate patient-focused evidence relevant to HTA, using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, are needed. Although it has been more than 20 years since opportunities for qualitative methods to inform HTA were first discussed, their use remains infrequent. The goal of this article is to resurrect the debate about the value of qualitative research in HTA. Drawing on examples from published literature, we propose five key areas where qualitative methods can contribute to HTA, complementary to studies of clinical and cost-effectiveness: (i) assessing acceptability and subjective value; (ii) understanding perspectives and providing context; (iii) reaching the groups other methods cannot reach; (iv) laying the groundwork for subsequent quantitative exercises; and (v) contributing to economic model development.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Szabo, Shelagh and Germeni, Dr Evi
• Authors: Germeni, E., and Szabo, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment
• Journal Name: International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0266-4623
• ISSN (Online): 1471-6348
• Published Online: 24 April 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care 39(1):e23
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher