There is currently no standardized way to share information about health technology assessment (HTA). Standardised Data on Initiatives (STARDIT) addresses current limitations and inconsistencies in sharing data about HTA processes by providing a way to report these data, including which stakeholders have been involved, their tasks, what methods and data sources were used, and any impacts or outcomes observed.

STARDIT development began in 2019 and was guided by participatory action research paradigms. A multidisciplinary international team of over 100 citizens, experts, and data users was involved in co-creating STARDIT. These co-creators include cancer patients, people affected by rare diseases, Indigenous peoples from multiple countries, representatives involved in HTA processes, health researchers, environmental researchers, economists, librarians, and academic publishers. Methods of involving people included public events, online discussions, and a public consultation process. STARDIT is free to use, and data can be submitted by anyone. Report authors can be verified to improve trust and transparency, and data can be checked for quality.

STARDIT can help create high-quality standardized information about HTA processes that can be accessed and edited by anyone. STARDIT enables data reporting at all stages of the HTA process and works in multiple languages. This allows stakeholders involved in or affected by HTA processes (including patients, the public, Indigenous peoples, and people from industry) to appraise and edit information and to self-identify the labels and terminology used to describe them. Organizations such as the Cochrane Collaboration, Australian Genomics, and multiple universities have created STARDIT reports. A link to the working beta version can be found at scienceforall.world/STARDIT.

STARDIT offers those conducting HTA access to standardized information that enables well-founded comparisons of the effectiveness of different HTA methods, including the most effective methods of involving stakeholders. STARDIT allows anyone to access data about HTA processes, which can support participatory ways of working and help improve the equity and quality of HTA processes worldwide.