Application of health technology assessment (HTA) in the decision-making in hospitals

Abstract

Objective: The incorporation of health technologies by hospitals affects the financial and healthcare performance of the health system of a whole country, and there is a lack in literature about the use of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) for decision making in Brazilian’s hospitals. In addition, there is evidence that the application of HTA in hospitals can improve the use of financial investments of the whole health sector. The objective of this study was to analyze the application of HTA methods in decision making in hospitals linked to REBRATS (Brazilian Network for the Health Technologies Assessment). Methods: Grounded Theory methodology has been applied, and the interviews data were analyzed using the ATLAS.ti software. Interviews were conducted with managers of 11 hospital-based HTA units (called “NATS”, Núcleo de Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde), based on a semi- -structured script prepared from the 15 guiding principles for good practices in hospital-based HTA units. Results: The results indicated that HTA is applied in an incipient way in the decision making process in hospitals. Conclusion: The analysis of the interviews’ content also allowed us to conclude that the success of the hospital-based HTA units for the incorporation and disincorporation of health technologies depends on a chain of related strategic actions, and the lack of any of the stages weakens or even impedes the full application of HTA for decision-making in hospitals.