Making Health Technology Assessment Information Available for Decision Making: The Development of a Thai Database
Nattiya Kapol PhD*, Pagamas Maitreemit PhD*, Rapeepun Chalongsuk MSc (Pharm)*, Yaowalak Amrumpai PhD*, Namfon Sribundit MBA*, Montarat Thavorncharoensap PhD**,***, Usa Chaikledkaew MA, PhD **,***, Yot Teerawattananon MD, PhD***
Affiliation : * Department of Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom and Ganesh SAP Research Unit ** Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok *** Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP), Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi
In Thailand, there is an attempt to develop the Thai HTA database in order to improve the accessibility and usefulness of HTA information. At present, the database is available online at www.db.hitap.net. The database includes 1) economic evaluation studies i.e. cost-minimization analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-benefit analysis, and cost-utility analysis, 2) outcome assessment studies i.e. randomized controlled trials, and 3) quantitative measured quality of life studies. All HTA studies related to the Thai context, and published in either Thai or English from 1990 onward, are eligible for inclusion in the database. In addition, there is a quality evaluation for each economic evaluation study which will help readers, who have limited knowledge about the method, to understand and make appropriate use of the information in their own settings. This may also raise awareness among researchers, who will conduct economic evaluation studies in the future, to adhere to the standard methodological guidelines because the quality evaluation was developed based on the national guidelines published in this supplement journal.
Keywords : Health technology assessment, Database, Economic evaluation
