Background:
HTA-centrum Region Västra Götaland is one of several regional Health Technology Assessment (HTA) units in Sweden and has been conducting HTA analyses on new healthcare technologies/methods since 2007. The HTA analyses are performed based on questions nominated by various departments and units from hospitals, primary care units or the healthcare board of directors, and they are reported back to the nominating unit as well as distributed through national and international HTA channels. With no particular follow-up routines in place, it is not known how the results of the HTA analyses are implemented in health care after their publication and whether they result in any changes in healthcare practices.
Objectives:
To investigate how the results of HTA analyses conducted by HTA-centrum Region Västra Götaland between 2007 and 2015 have been implemented. Some of the questions addressed are: Did the HTA analysis result in any political decisions? Did it result in a change in clinical practice (implementation or de-implementation of a technology or method)? What barriers were perceived to implementing the findings? How long did it take before the new method or practice was completely implemented in routine care? Did implementing the findings require any organizational changes or any additional human or financial resources? What have been the effects of implementing the technology/method on patient outcomes? Did the HTA analysis result in the initiation of a new study and, if so, has it been completed/published?
Methods:
We collected data via telephone interviews, using a semi-structured questionnaire format, in collaboration with the hospital research director. Respondents were the persons who had nominated the question or topic for the HTA analysis, or their successor or other designated person. We analysed the data descriptively.
Results:
Of 85 regional HTA analyses carried out during 2007-2015, 60 interviews have so far been conducted. Data collection is still ongoing. Most HTA analyses concerned surgical methods. Findings will be presented at the Colloquium.
Conclusions:
Implications of the study findings will be discussed and presented at the time of the conference.
Patient or healthcare consumer involvement:
The main outcomes in our HTA reports focus on patient-important outcomes.