Health technology assessment as comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation of integrated care—focusing integrated home care as prototype. Workshop

I. The workshop begins with an introduction by T. Larsen of key concepts and basic typology of health technology assessment (HTA), which will be illustrated by analytical elements from integrated home care. II. Questions for debate as presented and moderated by the workshop chair [Silvina Santana, University of Aveiro, Portugal] shall focus: 1) In which cases are HTA relevant? It is suggested that HTA is relevant in early stages of new interventions with genuine insecurity about the effects as a comprehensive evidence-based guideline for decision-makers in health care/health care policy of the potential of that specific technology. 2) How can HTA guide IC? It is suggested that the outcome of IC often are improved activities of daily living (ADL) directly associated with savings on successive needs hospital care and/or social services, they may be fully or mostly self-financed which indicates a synergistic relationship between disciplinary and economic evaluations. In most other branches of health care socio-economic and health professional evaluations may be in more or less opposition. 3) How relates HTA to value systems as utilinarism and moral duty? It is suggested that the inclusion of both quantitative and qualitative analysis in HTA might be interpreted as integrated evaluation of ‘classical’ empirism/utilinarism and ethical/psychological aspects. 4) What other IC-topics are relevant for HTA? There is none premeditated answers to this question which calls for open-minded listening and commenting of suggestions. Short illustrative explanations of standard, fast and mini HTA may be added. III. Finally, a free plenary discussion aims to round off the workshop, which should result in increasing awareness of the audience on the contribution of HTA to both informed and comprehensive choices between alternative interventions in the field of integrated care.