HB-HTA focus in a tertiary hospitals' network in Northern Italy: A three-years experience analysis

Background and aim: Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary process to de-termine the value of health technology in health sector articulated through the of Hospital Based HTA (HB-HTA). This study aims to investigate the diffusion of the HTA culture in hospitals (HB-HTA) and to analyze the thinking of healthcare professionals regarding the HTA. Methods: The study was performed through the administration of two questionnaires respectively to hospitals’ HealthCare Workers (HCW) to assess the HTA’s knowledge and to hospitals’ HCW that have submitted a new technologies or devices’ request to Direction between 2017 and 2019. Results: Considering 988 questionnaires send to HCW only 416 (42.1%) answer were collected, with a higher attention towards HTA made by physicians (148; 35,6%). It’s fundamental to observe that despite a mean response rate, 286 HCW (68.7%) shows interest expressed as 4 or 5 scoring on a Likert Scale for the HB-HTA concept as an instrument to help the hospital management. Considering 23 questionnaires to HCW that have made new technologies requests 15 (71.4%) of them show a higher attention and knowledge to HTA voiced as 4 or 5 scoring on a Likert Scale. Conclusions: In conclu-sion, this study shows a high interest in HTA among the HCW and underlines the adoption of HB-HTA method will represent a strategic lever to support clinical and organizational decision-making processes in the current welfare landscape and for the future developments. At the same time the HCW directly involved into technologies evaluation will be able to steer the HTA culture in hospital setting.