Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35313812›Full record

ArticleBMC medical research methodology2022

Developing a tool to assess the skills to perform a health technology assessment.

Julia Bidonde, Jose Francisco Meneses-Echavez, Brian Asare, Lumbwe Chola, Mohamed Gad, Lieke Fleur Heupink, Elizabeth Fleur Peacocke, iDSI Ghana HTA collaboration Group

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical research methodology, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Competencies for health technology assessment professionals: a scoping review and content analysis.International journal of technology assessment in health care · 2026
    Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Building sustainable health technology assessment capacity in Ukraine.International journal of technology assessment in health care · 2025
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Health technology assessment capacity to support Zambia's health benefits package reform policy.International journal of technology assessment in health care · 2025
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Julia BidondeNorwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box: 222 Skøyen, 0213, Oslo, Norway. julia.bidonde@fhi.no.
Jose Francisco Meneses-EchavezNorwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box: 222 Skøyen, 0213, Oslo, Norway.
Brian AsareGhana Ministry of Health, Ministries Accra, P.O.Box M 44, Accra, Ghana.
Lumbwe CholaNorwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box: 222 Skøyen, 0213, Oslo, Norway.
Mohamed GadLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
Lieke Fleur HeupinkNorwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box: 222 Skøyen, 0213, Oslo, Norway.
Elizabeth Fleur PeacockeNorwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box: 222 Skøyen, 0213, Oslo, Norway.
iDSI Ghana HTA collaboration Group

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealth technology assessment (HTA) brings together evidence from various disciplines while using explicit methods to assess the value of health technologies. In resource-constrained settings, there is a growing demand to measure and develop specialist skills, including those for HTA, to aid the implementation of Universal Healthcare Coverage. The purpose of this study was twofold: a) to find validated tools for the assessment of the technical capacity to conduct a HTA, and if none were found, to develop a tool, and b) to describe experiences of its pilot.

methodsFirst, a mapping review identified tools to assess the skills to conduct a HTA. A medical librarian conducted a comprehensive search in four databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, ERIC). Then, incorporating results from the mapping and following an iterative process involving stakeholders and experts, we developed a HTA skills assessment tool. Finally, using an online platform to gather and analyse responses, in collaboration with our institutional partner, we piloted the tool in Ghana, and sought feedback on their experiences.

resultsThe database search yielded 3871 records; fifteen those were selected based on a priori criteria. These records were published between 2003 and 2018, but none covered all technical skills to conduct a HTA. In the absence of an instrument meeting our needs, we developed a HTA skill assessment tool containing four sections (general information, core and soft skills, and future needs). The tool was designed to be administered to a broad range of individuals who would potentially contribute to the planning, delivery and evaluation of HTA. The tool was piloted with twenty-three individuals who completed the skills assessment and shared their initial impressions of the tool.

conclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive tool enabling the assessment of technical skills to conduct a HTA. This tool allows teams to understand where their individual strengths and weakness lie. The tool is in the early validation phases and further testing is needed.

trial registrationNot applicable.

Indexed as

Technology Assessment, BiomedicalUniversal Health InsuranceDelivery of Health CareGhanaHumansCapacity buildingCompetenceDeveloping countriesHealth technology assessmentLow and middle income countriesResearchSkillsTool

Identifiers

PMID35313812
PMCPMC8939100

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.