Course overview
This course takes a broad view of the impact of health technologies on the health of the population & individuals. Health technologies can include medical procedures, medical devices, diagnostic and investigative technologies, pharmaceuticals & public health interventions. 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 safety & effectiveness of a technology meta-analysis, as well as economic evaluation to determine whether a technology is cost-effective. Attention is also given to the diffusion of technological innovations within their social, cultural & ethical context; addressing particular challenges with the assessment of medical tests; to horizon scanning for new & emerging technologies; & to investment in, & 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 theuse 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 engage in HTA
- Understand the complex issues associated with evaluating diagnostic tests in an HTA
- Interpret a meta-analysis and apply meta-analytic statistical techniques