STE Reports

February 2010
Utilizing Diverse HTA Products in the Alberta Health Technologies Decision Process (in press)

January 2010
Insulin Pump Therapy (IPT) (in press)

May 2009 (published online October 2010)
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing in Alberta

This report is about testing for Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and can also cause cervical cancer. Cervical screening aims to reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality by detecting precancerous lesions early. Until the recent introduction of liquid-based cervical cytology (LBC) and HPV-DNA testing, conventional cervical cytology (Pap smear) was the only cervical screening test available in Canada. This report provides information on the effectiveness, economics and social demographic implications of these different screening technologies.

April 2008
Assistive Reproductive Technologies: a Literature Review and Database Analysis

This report on Assisted Reproductive Technologies(ARTs) is a literature review and secondary analyses of administrative health data conducted to provide information on the direct health care costs associated with multiple pregnancies and the potential cost impact of ARTs in Alberta.

March 2007
Screening Newborns for Cystic Fibrosis

A successful screening program for CF refers to the ability of the program to appropriately identify and refer for care those with CF, while meeting the needs of those who do not have CF, particularly those infants identified by the screening program as carriers (individuals unaffected by CF but have a mutation in one of their CFTR genes). Some measures of success might include: (1) how closely the screen approaches 100% sensitivity, (2) the ability of the screen to minimize intrusion on the lives of parents of unaffected infants, (3) the acceptability by the families regarding the integration of CF into existing screening programs, or (4) the acceptability and impact on primary care physicians who must deal with screening results and parental anxieties.  This report reviews the evidence in the field.

January 2007
Screening Newborns for Hearing

Permanent congenial hearing impairment/ loss (PCHI) is one of the most common congenital anomalies found at birth which can be expected to lead to delays and deficits in the development of speech, language, cognition and learning, as well as secondary effets on the child and family. Limited scientific evidence suggests that early identification and subsequent appropriate intervention (within the first 6 months) in infants with PCHI can minimize these effects. As a result, there has been a growing interest for universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) in attempts to diagnose PCHI as early as possible. This report reviews the evidence in the field.