Course overview
This course takes a broad view of the impact of health technologies on the health of the population and individual. Health technologies can include medicines, vaccines, medical or surgical procedures, medical devices, tests and investigations. In this course emphasis is placed on the methods used to assess these health technologies in order to inform government policy, clinical and public health practice. Methods include the systematic review of literature to assess the clinical safety and effectiveness of a technology, meta-analysis, as well as economic evaluation to determine whether a technology is good value for money. Attention is also given to the diffusion of technological innovations within their social, cultural and ethical context; addressing particular challenges with the assessment of medical tests; early assessment of emerging technologies; and to investment in, and disinvestment from, health technologies. The course has a strong practical focus and is taught by practitioners in the field.
Course learning outcomes
- Describe and critically appraise the conduct of health technology assessment (HTA), in particular the use of systematic literature review and economic modelling, to inform the development of health policy
- Understand the policy framework for HTA in Australia and internationally
- Undertake basic systematic searching for evidence on a health technology
- Critically appraise the quality of evidence supporting a health technology
- Recognise the range of approaches used in HTA to conduct an economic evaluation
- Recognise the role of ethical analysis and public and patient engagement in HTA
- Understand the complex issues associated with evaluating diagnostic tests in an HTA
- Interpret a meta-analysis and apply meta-analytic statistical techniques