Article type
Abstract
Background: The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Unit in Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz is a research center that works with the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MoH) to produce HTA studies, clinical and methodological guidelines, and capacity-building courses.
Objectives: To describe the portfolio of educational programs offered.
Methods: Since 2009, our HTA unit has been part of the Brazilian Unified Health System Institutional Development Program (PROADI-SUS). Based on the experience gained over 15 years, we developed an innovative educational approach focused on the HTA learning pathway.
Results: Beginner courses are offered online, self-paced, and accessible to the general public. They aim to raise awareness among patients, healthcare and legal professionals about the importance of HTA in healthcare decision-making within the Unified Health System (SUS). Since the first class, 7,282 students have completed these courses. For intermediate students, we offer short courses covering epidemiology, biostatistics, risk of bias and certainty of evidence, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact analysis. We have had 1,241 intermediate students. Additionally, 200 students participated in our workshops for clinical guidelines and horizon scanning. At an advanced level, we offer an MBA in HTA for professionals already in the field, in which we have certified 230 people. We also trained 344 professionals in the Advanced School of HTA, focusing on the most recent advances globally, 40 students in an economic evaluation course of partitioned survival analysis, and 57 in a network meta-analysis (NMA) course. Additionally, the team works with the MoH to develop clinical and scientific standards that assist other HTA groups and guide decision-making.
Conclusions: Over the past 15 years, Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz has contributed significantly to HTA professionals and clinical guidelines in Brazil. With over nine thousand former students in different levels of the HTA field, we anticipate further growth with our new proposal. The patient-friendly language in introductory courses aligns with advocating for evidence communication and use. Increasing the number of health professionals capable of critically appraising and applying evidence will impact decision-making and benefit SUS patients.
Objectives: To describe the portfolio of educational programs offered.
Methods: Since 2009, our HTA unit has been part of the Brazilian Unified Health System Institutional Development Program (PROADI-SUS). Based on the experience gained over 15 years, we developed an innovative educational approach focused on the HTA learning pathway.
Results: Beginner courses are offered online, self-paced, and accessible to the general public. They aim to raise awareness among patients, healthcare and legal professionals about the importance of HTA in healthcare decision-making within the Unified Health System (SUS). Since the first class, 7,282 students have completed these courses. For intermediate students, we offer short courses covering epidemiology, biostatistics, risk of bias and certainty of evidence, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact analysis. We have had 1,241 intermediate students. Additionally, 200 students participated in our workshops for clinical guidelines and horizon scanning. At an advanced level, we offer an MBA in HTA for professionals already in the field, in which we have certified 230 people. We also trained 344 professionals in the Advanced School of HTA, focusing on the most recent advances globally, 40 students in an economic evaluation course of partitioned survival analysis, and 57 in a network meta-analysis (NMA) course. Additionally, the team works with the MoH to develop clinical and scientific standards that assist other HTA groups and guide decision-making.
Conclusions: Over the past 15 years, Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz has contributed significantly to HTA professionals and clinical guidelines in Brazil. With over nine thousand former students in different levels of the HTA field, we anticipate further growth with our new proposal. The patient-friendly language in introductory courses aligns with advocating for evidence communication and use. Increasing the number of health professionals capable of critically appraising and applying evidence will impact decision-making and benefit SUS patients.