Toward a common understanding of competencies for health technology assessment: enhancing educational and training programs around the globe

Abstract

Background Depending on the health system context and the demands of relevant stakeholders in countries, the need, organizational structure, and prerequisites for enabling capacity building and development in health technology assessment (HTA) will vary. Core competencies are instrumental in this and include essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs). They provide building blocks for delivering high-quality and effective practices of HTA. We aimed to systematically explore and develop an overview of the core competencies necessary for HTA. Methods This study was conducted during 2016–19 using different methods in a structured manner. We drew concepts of KSAs from various literature sources, surveyed universities and HTA professionals, and conducted expert workshops to arrive at a common understanding of the required competencies. Results The terminology for KSAs defining competencies in HTA programs has been clarified. In addition, a list of competencies offered through different educational and training programs has been created. The surveys provided clarity on a common understanding of KSAs among HTA stakeholders. Thereafter, a set of competencies was described and classified according to the HTA domains. Conclusions Our study shows that there is diversity in HTA programs offered by educational institutions. The content of the programs varies due to differences between countries regarding the level of HTA development and the need for HTA, including the understanding of what HTA is. The preparation of a competency checklist or a “menu” of options mirroring the diversity of HTA will ensure that the specific needs of the HTA community will be covered.

HTA Training for Healthcare Professionals: International Overview of Initiatives Provided by HTA Agencies and Organizations

“…HTA requires multi-disciplinary skills and core competencies, which should be synergistically involved and empowered. A recent article on capacity building in HTA agencies reported the ability to design, conduct, evaluate and to understand HTA applications to decision making, as the main training needs for an efficient and effective HTA process ( 78 ). According to the proposal by the HTAi Scientific Development and Capacity Building Committee, HTA capacity building represents a much broader suite of activities than simply training of core HTA staff in technical competencies ( 79 ).…”

Talent cultivation in health technology assessment: an expert survey

“…A few essential hard/scientific skills (e.g., search and critical appraisal of literature, statistics, economic analysis) and soft skills (e.g., management, writing, interaction with team members, consensus building) were identified by the workshop participants [12]. As a follow-up, Mueller and colleagues conducted four interlinked research activities (including handbook/toolkit reviews, workshops, and surveys via questionnaires) between 2016 and 2019 and identified a list of competencies needed for HTA [13]. Currently, HTA programs in educational institutions around the world are diversified, and the consensus on core competencies is still being established among the stakeholders involved in HTA.…”

Editor's Corner

“…HTA has recently been redefined by an international joint task group as a "multidisciplinary process that uses explicit methods to determine the value of a health technology at different points in its life cycle". 1 It's useful to spend a minute unpacking that definition. What disciplines are involved and who are the primary drivers of the process?…”