Views of Multiple Sclerosis Patients About Key Elements for a Decision Aid: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) may experience decisional conflict during treatment choice. Shared decision making (SDM), whereby patients and health professionals, primarily nurses, collaborate in making decisions, reduces this decisional conflict. It requires understanding large amounts of information and may be complex, especially when decisions affect patients' autonomy and quality and prolongation of life.

Correction: Evaluation Criteria for Weight Management Apps: Validation Using a Modified Delphi Process.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/16899.].

Correction: Assessment of the Efficacy, Safety, and Effectiveness of Weight Control and Obesity Management Mobile Health Interventions: Systematic Review.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/12612.].

Catalan experience of deadoption of low-value practices in primary care.

Reducing ineffective practices is one way to ensure high-quality and efficient healthcare for the population. For this reason, several initiatives have been implemented worldwide to reduce low-value care. This article describes the experience of the project, a multifaceted deadoption strategy implemented in the Catalan primary care system.

Evaluation Criteria for Weight Management Apps: Validation Using a Modified Delphi Process.

Background: The use of apps for weight management has increased over recent years; however, there is a lack of evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of these apps. The EVALAPPS project will develop and validate an assessment instrument to specifically assess the safety and efficacy of weight management apps.

Objective: The aim of this study was to reach a consensus among stakeholders on a comprehensive set of criteria to guide development of the EVALAPPS assessment instrument.

Assessment of the Efficacy, Safety, and Effectiveness of Weight Control and Obesity Management Mobile Health Interventions: Systematic Review.

Background: The use of apps to tackle overweight and obesity by tracking physical and dietary patterns and providing recommendations and motivation strategies to achieve personalized goals has increased over recent years. However, evidence of the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of these apps is severely lacking.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify efficacy, safety, and effectiveness criteria used to assess weight control, overweight, and obesity management in mobile health (mHealth) interventions through a systematic review.

[Development of a Conceptual Framework for the Assessment of Chronic Care in the Spanish National Health System].

The aim was to develop a conceptual framework for the assessment of new healthcare initiatives on chronic diseases within the Spanish National Health System. A comprehensive literature review between 2002 and 2013, including systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and reports with evaluation frameworks and/or assessment of initiatives was carried out; integrated care initiatives established in Catalonia were studied and described; and semistructured interviews with key stakeholders were performed. The scope and conceptual framework were defined by using the brainstorming approach.

Implementation of a cross-border health service: physician and pharmacists' opinions from the epSOS project.

Objectives: To explore the opinions of health professionals with experience of the European Patient Smart Open Services (epSOS) system regarding the epSOS services perceived utility, potential impact and main barriers and facilitators to its use.

Methods: Qualitative study design involving focus groups with health care professionals with experience of epSOS system. A semi-structured topic guide was developed to guide the discussion.

Addressing issues in health technology assessment promotion: Motives, enablers, and barriers.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the motives, enablers, and barriers to promote or initiate health technology assessment (HTA) in different contexts.

Methods: An observational study design was used to address the above question that included a survey questionnaire and a two-phase study. The respondents for the questionnaire and first round of the study were from HTA agencies of high income countries and those low and middle income countries that have managed to establish HTA agencies (n = 50), that are members of International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA), EuroScan, or European network for Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA).

Relationship between total hip replacement appropriateness and surgical priority instruments.

Rationale: Variability in indications for total hip replacement (THR) and unequal waiting times may limit health care access.

Objective: To analyse the relationship between appropriateness and previously developed surgical priority instruments.

Method: Multicentre cross-validation study of patients placed on the waiting list for THR.

Potential for 2 priority systems to be used as appropriateness of indication tools for cataract surgery.

Objective: To test 2 systems developed to prioritize patients on waiting lists for cataract surgery, the Western Canadian Waiting List (WCWL), and the Catalan Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Research Cataract Priority System (CCPS), as tools for judging the appropriateness of the intervention.

Design: Cross-sectional study with follow-up.

Participants: A total of 1723 prospective patients awaiting cataract extraction in 5 hospitals were included in the study.

Systems to support health technology assessment (HTA) in member states of the European union with limited institutionalization of HTA.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to support health technology assessment (HTA) capacity building in Member States of the European Union with limited experience or without institutionalized HTA. The main output is a Handbook on HTA Capacity Building.

Methods: The methods used were worldwide surveys of (i) HTA organizations, (ii) information management units, and (iii) HTA educational programs.

Practical tools and methods for health technology assessment in Europe: structures, methodologies, and tools developed by the European Network for Health Technology Assessment, EUnetHTA.

Objectives: This article presents an overview of the practical methods and tools to support transnational Health Technology Assessment (HTA) that were developed and pilot tested by the European network for HTA (EUnetHTA), which involved a total of sixty-four Partner organizations.

Methods: The methods differ according to scope and purpose of each of the tools developed. They included, for example, literature reviews, surveys, Delphi and consensus methods, workshops, pilot tests, and internal/public consultation.

Prioritisation of patients on waiting lists for hip and knee arthroplasties and cataract surgery: Instruments validation.

Background: Prioritisation instruments were developed for patients on waiting list for hip and knee arthroplasties (AI) and cataract surgery (CI). The aim of the study was to assess their convergent and discriminant validity and inter-observer reliability.

Methods: Multicentre validation study which included orthopaedic surgeons and ophthalmologists from 10 hospitals.