Project Area: Health service and technology evaluation
Project Summary
Background and rationale
The need to address the overuse of medicines and other health technologies that can be considered as low-value health care is recognised globally. International and national research has identified the extent of the problem. Proposed solutions have focused on individual clinician behaviours or supporting patient decision-making. We propose a broader approach which involves the development of health technology reassessment (HTR) tools that establish thresholds to explicitly alert decision-makers of the need for reassessment of already reimbursed drugs and health technologies.
Aims and objectives
The aim of this project is to develop and apply a draft Health Technology Reassessment and Disinvestment tool to inform health technology disinvestment decision-making in Ireland. The objectives of the PhD research project are:
1. To identify and appraise tools for evidence-based HTR and disinvestment decision-making
2. To identify and map stakeholders in HTR and disinvestment decision-making in Ireland and work with these stakeholders to identify opportunities for HTR and disinvestment in Ireland
3. To develop and pilot test a tool to inform HTR and disinvestment decision-making in Ireland
Potential projects outputs
Each objective will lead to at least one academic paper that will form the basis for the PhD, including:
· A scoping/systematic review of HTR and disinvestment tools internationally
· A catalogue of HTR and disinvestment opportunities in Ireland
· A draft HTR and disinvestment tool
· An appraisal of a tool to inform HTR and disinvestment decision-making in Ireland
The candidate will also provide reports and policy briefs for stakeholders.
International placement
The successful candidate will have the opportunity for an international placement with Professor Adam Elshaug at the Centre for Health Policy, University of Melbourne, Australia, who is a collaborator on this project.
Research skills required
An MSc in a relevant field such as health economics, health services research or health policy would be beneficial.
Supervisory Team
Professor Susan M. Smith (Principal Investigator), Professor of General Practice, Discipline of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin and General Practitioner in Inchicore Family Doctors, Dublin 8
Professor Paddy Gillespie, J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics, Professor of Health Economics and Director of the Health Economics & Policy Analysis Centre (HEPAC), University of Galway
Dr. Paula Byrne, Senior Post-doctoral Researcher, iHealthFacts, Evidence Synthesis Ireland & HRB-Trials Methodology Research Network, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Galway (formerly Health Information and Quality Authority, Health Technology Assessment Directorate)
This project will be based at TCD
