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ASSESSING THE INTERNATIONAL USE OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTS: EXPLORING THE MERITS OF DIFFERENT METHODS WHEN APPLIED TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH RESEARCH HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT (NIHR HTA) PROGRAMME

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 April 2013

David Wright ,
Ruairidh Milne ,
Alison Price  and
Nicola Tose
David Wright
Affiliation:
National Institute for Health Research Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC), Alpha House, University of Southampton
Ruairidh Milne
Affiliation:
National Institute for Health Research Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC), Alpha House, University of Southampton
Alison Price
Affiliation:
National Institute for Health Research Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC), Alpha House, University of Southampton
Nicola Tose
Affiliation:
National Institute for Health Research Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre (NETSCC), Alpha House, University of Southampton
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Abstract

Objectives: This study presents findings from a study that explores the merits of different methods for assessing the international use of UK funded research by the National Institute of Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) Programme.

Methods: The study adopted an exploratory approach and used three core methods: (i) Academic use was explored through bibliometric and citation analysis of the top ten most cited health technology assessment (HTA) reports. (ii) Internet use was assessed using Webtrends software to identify the proportion of international visits of the top ten most downloaded HTA reports from January 1, 2004 to June 30, 2010. (iii) International HTA use was assessed by searching the Center for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) HTA database to explore the citation of NIHR HTA reports in reports by non-UK HTA agencies.

Results: Bibliometric analysis identified published output and international citations with 41 percent of the 549 journals citing NIHR HTA reports being based in the United States. Nine of ten most downloaded reports from the NIHR HTA Web site (www.hta.ac.uk) had in excess of 50 percent of visits outside the United Kingdom. Four of five selected NIHR HTA reports were cited in twenty-eight other HTA reports, eighteen of these outside the United Kingdom.

Conclusions: Assessing international use is important when exploring the uptake of research evidence. Methods used in identifying research impact, such as bibliometrics and Webtrends, are helpful in generating evidence of international use. HTA agencies should consider these techniques and international use when assessing the uptake of findings from research they undertake and/or commission.

Keywords

Technology assessmentResearch methodsUtilizationBibliometrics
Type
POLICIES
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , April 2013 , pp. 192 - 197
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013

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