Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, and it is becoming increasingly important to monitor the effect of various interventions on GERD symptoms. There can be rapid temporal changes in the severity and frequency of patients' symptoms as well as their health status and well-being, all of which could, theoretically, be monitored using diaries or qu...

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify the financial management educational needs of nurses in order to development an educational program to strengthen their financial management competencies. METHODS Data were collected from two focus groups using the nominal group technique. The study consisted of three steps: a literature review, focus group discussion using the nominal group t...

BACKGROUND Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard assessment for health technologies. A key aspect of the design of any clinical trial is the target sample size. However, many publicly-funded trials fail to reach their target sample size. This study seeks to assess the current state of recruitment success and grant extensions in trials funded by the Health Technology Assessme...

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to develop criteria for the prioritization of topics for health technology assessment (HTA) in the healthcare system of Kazakhstan. METHODS Initial proposals for criteria were suggested through consultation with Ministry of Health (MoH) policy areas. These were refined through a workshop attended by HTA department staff, persons from medical universities a...

OBJECTIVES The current and past situation of health technology assessment (HTA) in Catalonia is presented in this study. METHODS The approach used here is a historical review of facts and landmarks. RESULTS Spain has undergone radical change in many aspects, but the changes in healthcare provision have been major indeed. Catalonia has had the ability to benefit from these changes and has be...

This study examined the viability of a brief, parent-reported strengths and needs assessment as the first step in a multiple-gating approach to proactive positive behavior support for families. The Positive Family Support-Strengths and Needs Assessment (PFS-SaNA) was designed to collaboratively engage parents early in the school year in a home-school coordinated Positive Family Support (PFS) sy...

A major driver of cost growth in health care is the rapid increase in the utilisation of existing technology and not simply the adoption of new technology. Health economists and their health technology assessment colleagues have become obsessed by technology adoption questions and have largely ignored 'technology management' questions. Technology management would include the life-cycle assessme...

OBJECTIVES Although health technology assessment (HTA) has been well established in all developed countries, it has not found a firm footing in many developing countries. This is especially true of the Asia Pacific region, which has much of the world population. METHODS The beginnings of HTA in this region go back to the work of Dr. David Banta in China and the establishment of the Asian HTA ...

Lessons from health technology assessment (HTA) organizations around the world are emerging, and only some of them are about evidence. Other lessons pertain to governance, communication, trust, politics, and the persistence of local “practice patterns” for evidence evaluations. This should not come as a surprise. HTA organizations worldwide have different constituencies and organizational struc...