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Announcement
Minimum volume standards for quality assurance in day surgery
A possible measure for quality assurance in day surgery is minimum volume standards (MVSs). While the majority of research in this context observes a positive relationship between volume and outcome in the form of statistical correlation, the data availability on surgery specific and evidence-based minimum volume thresholds is low. Aims of the present report were to show the fundamentals of the MVSs theory, to illustrate possible internationally implemented MVSs frameworks in day surgery, and (in the course of a systematic review) to examine whether MVVs for specific day surgeries lead to better results in terms of efficacy and safety.
Publication: LBI-HTA Project report No. 125: https://eprints.aihta.at/1225/
Contact: Michal Stanak, Christoph Strohmaier
Announcement
POCT/ Point of Care Tests: D-Dimer and Troponin
Troponin and D-dimer point of care tests can be used to aid the diagnosis of patients with symptoms suggestive of suspected acute coronary syndrome and venous thromboembolism respectively. Potential advantages of point of care tests include faster turnaround time, reduced length of stay and reduced unnecessary hospitalisation/further testing. This report aimed at evaluating the clinical benefit of these two point of care diagnostics in various settings. Two overview of reviews, two guideline synopsis and interviews with experts were hereby carried out.
Publication: LBI-HTA Project report 124: https://eprints.aihta.at/1224/
Contact: Gregor Goetz
Announcement
Cervical Carcinoma Prevention - Implementation of an HPV screening test in the early detection of cervical cancer in Austria
Cervical cancer screening has been revolutionized by the discovery that nearly all cervical cancer diseases are caused by persistent infection with human (high-risk) papillomaviruses (HPV). Along with this, the development of new HPV-based test systems internationally led to a change in existing cervical carcinoma screening strategies. The purpose of this report was to provide a basis for the decision to implement the HPV test in cervical carcinoma screening in Austria.
Publication: LBI-HTA Project report No. 121: https://eprints.aihta.at/1223/
Contact: Eva Fuchs, Sarah Wolf
Announcement
Screening programs for children and adolescents from 6 to 18 years. Results on selected countries, Austrian screening programmes and recommendations from evidence-based guidelines
This LBI-HTA report focuses on children and adolescents from 6 to 18 years and deals with 9 international screening services, 4 Austrian screening programmes and with screening and counselling recommendations from 59 evidence-based guidelines on a total of 25 diseases and risk profiles. Based on the guidelines, the report involves positive screening recommendations for 11 health threats. The country programmes resulted in consistent screenings with regard to body weight, height, dental diseases, visual and hearing disorders and mental disorders. In summary, thematic similarities between the guideline recommendations, the international practice examples and the 4 Austrian programmes were found.
Publication: LBI-HTA Project report No. 123 + Addendum report: https://eprints.aihta.at/1221
Contact: Roman Winkler / Inanna Reinsperger
Announcement
Rehabilitation for children and adolescents in Austria: A systematic analysis of evaluation methodologies
Until a few years ago, there were no specially designed rehabilitation centres for children and adolescents in Austria, which differ from adult rehabilitation programmes with regard to the supply structure (e.g.; structural requirements or rehabilitation measures). In 2010, a need for a total of 343 beds for 11 indicator groups and an additional 50 beds for the relatives was indicated within the scope of the planning phase of the child and adolescent rehabilitation centres in four Austrian supply zones by 2020. The six newly built centres will now be evaluated on a regular basis. Therefore, the present report provides an overview of international evaluation methods and (standardised) evaluation instruments that can be used for future evaluations.
Publication: LBI-HTA Projektbericht No. 122: https://eprints.aihta.at/1222
Contact: Sarah Wolf, Roman Winkler
Newsletter
Announcement
Horizon Scanning in Oncology - Reports
We are pleased to introduce our new HSO report.
DSD HSO No. 91
Newsletter
Announcement
Pharma: Disclosure of transfers of value in austria 2018. Update of the systematic analysis 2015
In recent years, payments made by the pharmaceutical industry to doctors and medical institutions have increasingly been questioned critically. In a systematic analysis, the websites of all PHARMIG member companies (113) were once again searched for information on financial contributions to Austrian healthcare professionals and institutions in 2018. In 2018, a total of 138.3 million euros flowed from PHARMIG member companies to doctors and medical institutions as well as to clinical research and observational studies in Austria. In 2015, the total amounted to 104.1 million euros.
Although the number of Pharmig member companies declaring grants increased only slightly compared to 2015 (2015: 69/113, 2018: 76/115), in 2018 almost one third (32.8%) more grants were made - an increase of 34.2 million euros. In 2018, the share of donations to physicians in the total amount was 7% lower than in 2015. Since this figure corresponds exactly to the increase in the category research and development, a re-declaration can be assumed here. The actual willingness to disclose financial contributions, especially from doctors, is still low - the individual disclosure rate (by name) averaged only 21.1% (2015: 21.9%), which corresponds to 18.5% (2015: 17%) of the amounts paid out. In contrast, the willingness to disclose payments to medical institutions by name (institution) was still significantly higher on average at 49.4% (2015: 50.2%).
Publication: Rapid Assessment No. 7d/ 1. Update 2019: https://eprints.aihta.at/1218/
Contact: Ozren Sehic
Announcement
Sponsoring of Patient Initiatives in Austria 2018. Update of the Systematic Analyses 2014, 2015 and 2016
Information on the year 2018 was found from 49 out of 113 PHARMIG member companies.
In 2018, a total of € 1,657,087 as financial support to patient initiatives were reported. Most grants (around 85% of all financial contributions) were given to initiatives in the nine fields of Oncology & Hematology, Neurology, Hemophilia, Pulmonology, Rare Diseases, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, and HIV/AIDS. After a significant decline in 2016, the total sum declared represents an increase of +45%. The number of disclosures doubled compared to 2014 (2014: 24/115 PHARMIG companies declared contributions to patient initiatives, 2018: 49/113).
Consistent monitoring by a critical public is still required in order to observe the implementation of the voluntary commitment to more transparency.
Publication: Rapid Assessment No. 7b 3. Update: https://eprints.aihta.at/1217/
Contact: Ozren Sehic