background and aim: although play seems to be a simple concept, it is complex and varies according to individual experiences. play is a process that follows no rule. it is a spontaneous, funny, flexible, completely attractive, vital, and challenging behavior that aims at no goal. pretend play starts in childhood since 18 months. the play is a potential source for assessment of academic skills a...

objectives due to the lack of a standard tool for assessing patients’ capacity to consent to medical treatment in iran, the present study was carried out aiming to devise a persian version of a cross-cultural adaptation of the macarthur competence assessment tool. conclusions in the present study, we are able to focus on and prove the efficacy and benefits of this measurement tool. results the ...

The rapid ageing of the European population poses a challenge for healthcare systems. The incidence of cancers will rise as the number of adults aged 65 years and older increases. Moreover, the health status of individuals in this age group is diverse, and thus requires modern oncology to apply an individualised approach to treatment. There is a clear need to develop and validate health assessm...

Evidence suggests that a significant number of medical technologies are of little or no benefit to patients. Under current budgetary pressures, state health care programs cannot afford continued spending on unnecessary medical care without further cuts in enrollment. Limiting coverage of high-tech care only to indications supported by good clinical evidence would help save state health care dol...

OBJECTIVES This review assessed current practice in the preparation of rapid reviews by health technology assessment (HTA) organizations, both internationally and in the Australian context, and evaluated the available peer-reviewed literature pertaining to the methodology used in the preparation of these reviews. METHODS A survey tool was developed and distributed to a total of fifty Internat...

India is at crossroads with a commitment by the government to universal health coverage (UHC), driving efficiency and tackling waste across the public healthcare sector. Health technology assessment (HTA) is an important policy reform that can assist policy-makers to tackle inequities and inefficiencies by improving the way in which health resources are allocated towards cost-effective, appropr...

OBJECTIVES As an initiative of the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA), a checklist for assessment reports was developed as a means of improving transparency and consistency in HTA. METHODS Preparation of a summary of key elements in HTA reports, drawing on experience in preparation of such documents, information from guidelines for HTA, and individual ...

The Israeli Center for Technology Assessment in Health Care (ICTAHC) was established in 1998 at the Gertner Institute for Epidemiology and Health Policy Research, on foundations set in 1992 by the Medical Technology Assessment Unit. The Center is defined as an independent multidisciplinary research center, whose main aims are to assist in developing processes for the adoption of new technologie...

OBJECTIVES To obtain further information from members of the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA) on the involvement of consumers in their programs. METHODS A questionnaire for a survey was developed and sent to member agencies in November 2010. Survey responses were compared with those from an earlier survey conducted in 2005. RESULTS Of the thirty-th...

BACKGROUND Following approximately 10 years from the beginning of Iran's national Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme, the present study aims to evaluate its success by examining the impact of HTA and identifying the determinant factors leading to the implementation of HTA report results. METHODS The triangulation method was employed herein. HTA reports were initially identified and ...