Cancer population norms using a new value set for the SF-6Dv2 based on the preferences of patients with breast or colorectal cancer in Quebec.

Background: Because health resources are limited, health programs should be compared to allow the most efficient ones to emerge. To that aim, health utility instruments have been developed to allow the calculation of quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). However, generic instruments, which can be used by any individual regardless of their health profile, typically consider the preferences of the general population when developing their value set.

How does HTA addresses current social expectations? An international survey.

Objectives: Integration of ethics into technology assessment in healthcare (HTA) reports is directly linked to the need of decision makers to provide rational grounds justifying their social choices. In a decision-making paradigm, facts and values are intertwined and the social role of HTA reports is to provide relevant information to decision makers. Since 2003, numerous surveys and discussions have addressed different aspects of the integration of ethics into HTA.

ETHICS IN HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

Objectives: Integration of ethics into health technology assessment (HTA) remains challenging for HTA practitioners. We conducted a systematic review on social and methodological issues related to ethical analysis in HTA. We examined: (1) reasons for integrating ethics (social needs); (2) obstacles to ethical integration; (3) concepts and processes deployed in ethical evaluation (more specifically value judgments) and critical analyses of formal experimentations of ethical evaluation in HTA.

IMPACT OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT REPORTS ON HOSPITAL DECISION MAKERS - 10-YEAR INSIGHT FROM A HOSPITAL UNIT IN SHERBROOKE, CANADA: IMPACT OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT ON HOSPITAL DECISIONS.

Objectives: The overarching goal of this research was to (i) evaluate the impact of reports with recommendations provided by a hospital-based health technology assessment (HB-HTA) unit on the local hospital decision-making processes and implementation activities and (ii) identify the underlying factors of the nonimplementation of recommendations.

Methods: All reports produced by the HB-HTA unit between December 2003 and March 2013 were retrieved, and hospital decision makers who requested these reports were solicited for enrolment. Participants were interviewed using a mixed design survey.

HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT UNIT PROCESSES FOR THE VALIDATION OF AN INFORMATION TOOL TO INVOLVE PATIENTS IN THE SAFETY OF THEIR CARE.

Introduction: Patients and families play an important role in preventing adverse events. The quality council at our hospital produced a communication tool in considering the main causes of adverse events and requested the health technology assessment (HTA) unit to validate it.

Objectives: Assess the validity of the content of a tablemat sticker as an information tool for hospitalized patients.

Measuring interdisciplinarity in clinical practice with IPC59, a modified and improved version of IPC65.

Rationale: Interdisciplinarity is considered a key concept in the management of complex cases in healthcare. However, working in interdisciplinary teams requires the integration of many concepts and a large amount of effort. To help healthcare managers and professionals identify the strengths and weaknesses of their interdisciplinary team and to ensure its continuous improvement, we developed a tool called the IPC65.

Is radiofrequency ablation of varicose veins a valuable option? A systematic review of the literature with a cost analysis.

Background: Since the 1990s, new techniques for the treatment of varicose veins have emerged, including radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and laser treatment. We performed a study to compare the safety, efficacy and outcomes of RFA compared to those of open surgery and laser ablation for the treatment of varicose veins. We also carried out a cost analysis of RFA compared to open surgery to assess whether RFA could help free up operating room time by being performed in an outpatient context.

Pressure Infusion Cuff and Blood Warmer during Massive Transfusion: An Experimental Study About Hemolysis and Hypothermia.

Background: Blood warmers were developed to reduce the risk of hypothermia associated with the infusion of cold blood products. During massive transfusion, these devices are used with compression sleeve, which induce a major stress to red blood cells. In this setting, the combination of blood warmer and compression sleeve could generate hemolysis and harm the patient.

Social acceptance and population confidence in telehealth in Quebec.

Background: Access to healthcare in remote areas is difficult and telehealth could be a promising avenue if accepted by the population. The aim of this study is to assess social acceptance and population confidence in telehealth in the Province of Quebec.

Methods: We conducted a survey using a questionnaire assessing the social acceptance of and confidence level in telehealth.

[Validation of the IPC65 questionnaire: a tool to measure interdisciplinarity in clinical practice].

Aim: Interdisciplinary clinical practice has become an essential objective for the management of complex cases in a large number of health facilities in Quebec and elsewhere. However, this highly desirable practice cannot be implemented on demand and requires a carefully designed approach in combination with continuous feedback between the various partners involved in the management and functioning of an interdisciplinary team. The purpose of this research was to provide teams with a tool to help them identify their strengths and weaknesses in order to ensure continuous improvement.

New design of care: Assessment of an interdisciplinary orthopaedic clinic with a pivot nurse in the province of Quebec.

Background: New designs of care in orthopaedic clinics are needed to cope with the shortage of orthopaedic surgeons and the lengthening of waiting times.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of an interdisciplinary orthopaedic clinic with a pivot nurse in the Canadian province of Quebec with regard to accessibility, quality of care, efficacy and efficiency of the clinic, and patient's quality of life.

Methods: Two strategies were developed: (1) a selected cohort of new patients attending an orthopaedic service from February to September 2008 were entered into a database recording patient details, source of referral, diagnosis, satisfaction, and quality of life (36-Item Short Form Health Survey version 2).