The outcome of IHE initiatives is providing better information for developing health policy and best medical practices. IHE disseminates information in many ways. In addition to publications in peer-reviewed journals, IHE produces books and a variety of reports synthesizing information in a particular field.
If you cannot find the publication or report you are seeking, please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you!
Refine your search by clicking filters to the left.
| Timothy Caulfield, Alessandro R Marcon, Blake Murdoch, Jasmine Brown, Sarah Tinker Perrault, Jonathan Jarry, Jeremy Snyder, Samantha J Anthony, Stephanie Brooks, Zubin Master, Christen Rachul, Ubaka Ogbogu, Joshua Greenberg, Amy Zarzeczny, Robyn Hyde-Lay
Abstract: Numerous social, economic and academic pressures can have a negative impact on representations of biomedical research. We review several of the forces playing an increasingly pernicious role in how health and science information is interpreted, shared and used, drawing discussions towards the role of narrative. In turn, we explore how aspects of narrative are used in…
| Dat Tran, Thanh Nguyen, Dawn Opgenorth, Xiaoming Wang, Danny Zuege, David A. Zygun, Henry T. Stelfox, Sean M. Bagshaw
This study, published in the Journal of Critical Care, explores the association between strained ICU capacity and healthcare costs, and demonstrates the admissions to ICUs experiencing strain incur incremental costs, attributed to longer hospitalization and physician services.
| Paula Corabian, Bing Guo, Carmen Moga, Ann Scott
This article retrospectively examines the evolution of rapid assessments (RAs) produced by the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Program at the Institute of Health Economics over its 25-year relationship with a single requester, the Alberta Health Ministry (AHM).
| Paula Corabian, Bing Guo, Carmen Moga, Ann Scott
The Health Technology Assessment Program at the Institute of Health Economics has conducted rapid assessments (RAs) since 1993. This information paper draws on this experience and describes the evolution of RA process and products over a 25-year relationship with a single requester to quantify the effects of this partnership on the RAs produced. The aim is to contribute to emergent…
| Nancy Zuck, John Sproule, Charles Cook, Rebecca Albrecht
Alberta Health initiated the Nurse Practitioner Demonstration Project(s) (NPDP) in 2016 to support access to and further integration of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) into Alberta’s primary health care system. Funding was provided (based on diverse program plans) to the Boyle McCauley Health Centre (BMHC), The Alex Community Health Centre (The Alex), the Calgary Urban Project…
Ce rapport fournit un résumé d’un atelier de sprint sur la conception de données probantes du monde réel (DPMR) qui a eu lieu le 21 octobre 2018 à Toronto, en Ontario. L’atelier a été conçu et offert dans le cadre d’un partenariat entre l’Agence canadienne des médicaments et des technologies…
This report provides a summary of a real-world evidence (RWE) design sprint workshop that took place on October 21, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario. The workshop was developed and delivered as a joint partnership between the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH); Canadian Association for Population Therapeutics (CAPT), Health Canada, and the Institute of Health…
| Dat Tran, Robert Welsh, Arto Ohinmaa, Thanh Nguyen, Padma Kaul
Little is known about the resource use and cost burden of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) beyond the index event. We examined resource use and care costs during the first and each subsequent year, among patients with incident AMI.
This study originated from discussions on how to translate research findings into conclusions regarding safety and effectiveness in systematic reviews responding to requests from a provincial mechanism for introducing and diffusing publicly funded healthcare technologies. Its objective is to identify prominent and reliable evidence grading systems used in health technology assessment…
| Charles Yan, Yufei Zheng, Michael D. Hill, Balraj Mann, Thomas Jeerakathil, Noreen Kamal, Shy Amlani, Anderson Chuck
Abstract: We present a conceptual approach to determine the optimal solution to delivering a health technology, consistent with the objective of maximizing patient outcomes subject to resources available to a publicly funded health system. The article addresses two key policy questions: 1) adding system values through appropriate planning of health services delivery and 2) considering…
| Bing Guo, Paula Corabian, Charles Yan, Lisa Tjosvold
This evidence-based report examines expanding the role of paramedics in the community. It summarizes the various types of community paramedicine programs (characteristics, implementation, and funding sources in other jurisdictions) as well as the safety, effectiveness, and economic outcomes of these paramedic programs towards providing patients with alternate, non-emergency health…
This paper reviews implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) and its financial implications. Literature on clinical outcomes and financial implications were reviewed. Reports from many different surgery types shows that implementation of ERAS reduces complications and shortens hospital stay. These improvements have major impacts on reducing the cost of care even…
This report provides a summary of recently published information (January 2015 to present) regarding the glucose monitoring technologies that are commercially available in North America, as well as those that are emerging within the next five years (up to 2021).
| Arto Ohinmaa, Yufei Zheng, Thomas Jeerakathil, Scott Klarenbach, Unto Häkkinen, Thanh Nguyen, Dan Friesen, Jane Ruseski, Padma Kaul, Ruolz Ariste, Philip Jacobs
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the trends and regional variation of stroke hospital care in 30-day in-hospital mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS), and 1-year total hospitalization cost after implementation of the Alberta Provincial Stroke Strategy.
Objective: The objective of this paper is to estimate the additional mental health service costs incurred within the criminal justice system that are incurred because of people with mental illnesses who go through the system. Our focus is on costs in Alberta.
The Institute of Health Economics (IHE) together with the O’Brien Institute for Public Health (O’Brien Institute) held a policy forum on February 8th, 2016, entitled Physicians as Stewards of Resources: Roles, Responsibilities, and Remuneration to inform decision-making regarding the fiscal sustainability of theprovincial healthcare system, with a specific…
This guide has been developed by the information specialists at the Institute of Health Economics in Edmonton Alberta and is intended to facilitate searching for health technology assessments (HTAs) or systematic reviews by providing the list of current and reliable internet-based resources that we regularly use in our work. We have tried as much as possible to match this guide…
Abstract: Canada having a universal health insurance plan that provides hospital and physician benefits offers a natural experiment of whether continuity ofcare actually provides lower or higher utilization of services. The question we are evaluating is whether Canadians, who have a regular physician, use more health resources than those who do not have one? Using two statistical…
| Angus Thompson, Maria Ospina, Liz Dennett, Arianna Waye, Philip Jacobs
Presenteeism, reduced productivity while working, has come into consideration as a major occupational health problem in many countries with serious consequences for both organizations and employees. Increasing evidence shows that presenteeism represents a significant source of productivity losses that can cost organizations much more than does absenteeism, and it can lead to an…
OBJECTIVES: To examine differences in health services utilization (HSU) costs in the first year of life between low birth weight (LBW) and normal birth weight (NBW) infants, identify maternal and child characteristics associated with HSU costs, and estimate annual HSU cost of LBW infants for the province of Alberta, Canada.
| Bing Guo, Carmen Moga, Christa Harstall, Don Schopflocher
Objective: Because of a lack of a control group, a case-series study is considered one of the weaker study designs from which to obtain evidence on treatment effectiveness. Under certain circumstances, however, this is the only available evidence to inform health-care decisions. This study's intent was to develop and validate a quality appraisal checklist specifically for…
Alberta Health Services (AHS) has recently established a number of Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs) in the province around specific health care topics (e.g., Cardiovascular Health & Stroke) and within areas where care is delivered (e.g., Surgery). The SCNs are the engines of innovation in the health system and have a mandate to find new and innovative ways of delivering care…
| Julie Polisena, John Lavis, Don Juzwishin, Pam McLean-Veysey, Ian Graham, Christa Harstall, Janet Martin
A perceived gap exists in how well Canadian health technology assessment (HTA) producers are supporting the use of their HTAs by decision-makers. The authors propose that the newly released HTA Database Canadian search interface incorporate structured decision-relevant summaries of HTAs that would be developed by participating Canadian HTA organizations. The registry would…
| Ann Scott, Dion Pasichnyk, Christa Harstall, Dagmara Chojecki
This Information Paper is an inventory and broad summary of factors affecting the adoption and diffusion of health technologies and of available models, strategies, tools, and processes for optimizing health technology diffusion.
| Maria Ospina, Liz Dennett, Arianna Waye, Philip Jacobs, Angus Thompson
Objectives: To assess and compare the measurement properties (ie, validity, reliability, responsiveness) and the quality of the evidence of presenteeism instruments.
| Lindsay Wodinski, Kate Woodman, Margaret Wanke, Thanh Nguyen, Philip Jacobs
Abstract: Alberta's Primary Care Networks (PCNs) bring together family physicians and other health professionals to provide local, comprehensive, and readily accessible primary care services to patients. The Edmonton North PCN, one of the largest in the province, piloted the Resource in Clinic (RIC) Program with objectives to increase efficiencies in the use of physician…
À titre de président du jury, le Dr Alain Lesage, M.D., FRCPC, M.Phil., DFAPA, professeur au département de psychiatrie de l'Université de Montréal et clinicien à l’Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal, Québec, a dirigé un comité spécial dont le mandat était d'élaborer…
This consensus development conference was commissioned by the Government of Alberta to improve the transition of its system of care for people with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) toward the community. The system, previously hospital- and institution-centred, is moving towards becoming a community-centred, patient- and family-led one. The development and deployment…
| Caroline Sheppard, Erica Lester, Anderson Chuck, David Kim, Shahzeer Karmali, Christopher Gara, Daniel Birch
INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to determine the short-term cost impact thatmedical tourism for bariatric surgery has on a public healthcare system. Due to long wait times for bariatric surgery services, Canadians are venturing to private clinics in other provinces/countries. Postoperative care in this population not only burdens the provincial health system…
Objectives: To estimate the annual health services utilization (HSU) cost per person with FASD by sex and age; the lifetime HSU cost per person with FASD by sex, and the annual HSU cost of FASD for Alberta by sex.
| Carolyn Dewa, Desmond Loong, Sarah Bonato, Thanh Nguyen, Philip Jacobs
BACKGROUND: Interest in the well-being of physicians has increased because of their contributions to the healthcare system quality. There is growing recognition that physicians are exposed to workplace factors that increase the risk of work stress. Long-term exposure to high work stress can result in burnout. Reports from around the world suggest that about one-third to…
Summary of Systematic Reviews, Primary Studies, and Evidence-based Guidelines. The following research questions were addressed in this review: What are the clinical effects of a universal screening strategy for ARO carriage when compared with no screening? What are the clinical effects of a universal screening strategy for ARO carriage when compared with targeted screening (screening…
Antibiotic-Resistant Organisms (AROs) are a serious health problem, though they are more prevalent in some settings than others. We were asked to make findings and develop recommendations on how to address surveillance of and screening for AROs in acute care hospitals. This consensus statement addresses these requests. However, confining the discussion and recommendations to hospitals…
| Carolyn Dewa, Philip Jacobs, Thanh Nguyen, Desmond Loong
BACKGROUND: Interest in the impact of burnout on physicians has been growing because of the possible burden this may have on health care systems. The objective of this study is toestimate the cost of burnout on early retirement and reduction in clinical hours of practicingphysicians in Canada.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to explore the degree to which databases otherthan MEDLINE contribute studies relevant for inclusion in rapid health technology assessments (HTA).
This report has been produced in response to a request from Alberta Health (AH). The objective was to perform a review of practices of engaging committees composed of lay people or members of the general public at international, national, provincial, and regional levels. The review attempts to address the following questions: What scientific evidence is available about committees…
INTRODUCTION: Varicella vaccine was introduced to the infant immunization schedule in each province or territory between 2000 and 2007 as a result of the Canadian ImmunizationStrategy. The impact of vaccinating children against this disease is potentially far reaching, asimmunization may also benefit those segments of the population not immunized. The objective of this paper…
Abstract: Medical wait time is a top health policy issue in Canada. Reliable data on the referral wait time from primary to specialty care are limited. Existing data on referral wait times are generally self-reported by specialists. In 2008, the Edmonton North Primary Care Network (PCN) developed a Centralized Referral Program, including a specialist database that contains…
| Ian Colman, Yasmin Garad, Yiye Zeng, Kiyuri Naicker, Murray Weeks, Scott Patten, Peter Jones, Angus Thompson, T. Cameron Wild
Purpose: Studies suggest that childhood trauma is linked to both depression and heavy drinking in adulthood, and may create a lifelong vulnerability to stress. Few studies have explored the effects of stress sensitization on the development of depression or heavy drinking among those who have experienced traumatic childhood events. This study aimed to determine the effect…
| Sherilyn Houle, Finlay McAlister, Cynthia Jackevicius, Anderson Chuck, Ross Tsuyuki
BACKGROUND: Pay-for-performance (P4P) is increasingly touted as a means to improve health care quality.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of P4P remuneration targeting individual health careproviders.
This project is concerned with describing a comprehensive set of HTA products, not the methods used to produce them. The report describes various products produced by HTA agencies and provides a summary of the basic elements of these products, but an in-depth analysis of, or comparison between, the various products in terms of their methodology is beyond its scope. Information…
| Logan McLeod, JoAnn Kingston-Riechers, Egon Jonsson
Abstract: The potential risks to patient safety in a primary care setting are different than the risks to patient safety in an acute care setting. The main differences arise from the organisational structures of primary care delivery and the greater involvement of patients in their care. To account for these differences, we present the Patient Safety in Primary Care Framework…
For which strategies of suicide prevention is there evidence of effectiveness? This report aims to synthesize research findings from existing systematic reviews to address two questions: What types of preventive interventions have been evaluated in the published literature? Which strategies have good-quality evidence to support them? Limited evidence - as well as variability by…
| Paula Corabian, Dagmara Chojecki, Christa Harstall
This exploratory report provides a summary of some of the published information on the current status of research in and potential future sphere of activity of nanomedicine (Part I) and an inventory of resources on nanotechnology and nanomedicine (Part II). Over the next 5 to 10 years it is expected that the overall impact of nanomedicine will be multifaceted, with significant…
| Carmen Moga, Bing Guo, Don Schopflocher, Christa Harstall
This Methodology Paper summarizes the process, a modified Delphi approach, used to develop a specific checklist for the quality appraisal of case series studies. This work was supplemented with a review of other published checklists and an initial pilot test of the newly developed quality appraisal checklist. Researchers at the Institute of Health Economics with researchers from…
| Anne-Marie Boström, Susan E Slaughter, Dagmara Chojecki, Carole Estabrooks
OBJECTIVES: The recent emphasis on knowledge translation (KT) in health care is based on the premise that quality of care improves when research findings are translated into practice. This study aimed to identify the extent, nature, and settings of KT research pertaining to the care of older adults.
This report describes a framework for evaluating policies developed within the Alberta Health Technologies Decision Process (AHTDP) to strengthen the link between policy development and evidence. The framework was designed as a foundation upon which to build a more detailed and contextualized evaluative process in consultation with all stakeholders who are likely to be affected…
| Philip Jacobs, Jessica Moffatt, Egon Jonsson, Arto Ohinmaa, Cathy Gladwin
The Institute of Health Economics (IHE) has completed a scan to determine what public health-related costs are borne by government departments, ministries, and agencies. The final report, Everybody’s Business: The Cost of Multi-Department Involvement in Public Health in Alberta, was funded by Alberta Health Services (AHS) as part of the Project 2030 initiative that saw the…
This in-depth book contains an introduction to prevention of FASD and to the different methods that are used. There is also a systematic review of the effectiveness of prevention approaches and an overview of reviews on FASD. The book ends with a chapter called “Five perspectives on prevention of FASD” written by professionals in the field who are working to prevent…
| Carissa Escober-Doran, Philip Jacobs, Carolyn Dewa
Objective: In Canada charitable or nonprofit organizations provide government-contracted mental health and addictions services, and they augment government funding by raising charitable revenues. This study estimated by source the revenues of nonprofit mental health and addictions organizations in Canada.
Abstract: The article presents information on the Health Technology Assessment. Guidance for health care practices in Sweden were documented when Medical Collegium was established in 1663 to distinguish quackery from medicine and control the poisonous drugs. In early 1980s, Sweden established the Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Healthcare to assess major diseases…
| Amanda Burls, Lorraine Caron, Ghislaine Cleret de Langavant, Wybo Dondorp, Christa Harstall, Ela Pathak-Sen, Bjørn Hofmann
OBJECTIVES: Values are intrinsic to the use of health technology assessments (HTAs) inhealth policy, but neglecting value assumptions in HTA makes their results appear more robust or normatively neutral than may be the case. Results of a 2003 survey by the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA) revealed the existence of disparate methods…
The economic impact of mental illness and addictions is felt throughout society - in the health care system, the social services system, education, criminal justice, and the workplace. In this booklet we conducted a provincial and national level analysis of the expenditures on mental health and addictions in Canada.
| Deborah Marshall, Paul Rogers, Thomas Rohleder, Sonia Vanderby
This booklet provides an overview of the System Dynamics (SD) approach and its potential applications in improving access to health services and quality of care. The specific application addressed here is the improvement of care of patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA), as this is a pressing issue in Canada today. The specific health system and population addressed here…
| Susan E Brien, Diane Lorenzetti, Steven Lewis, James Kennedy, William A Ghali
BACKGROUND: There is an extensive body of literature on health system quality reporting that has yet to be characterized. Scoping is a novel methodology for systematically assessing the breadth of a body of literature in a particular research area. Our objectives were to showcase the scoping review methodology in the review of health system quality reporting, and to reporton…
Rationale, aims and objectives: The Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument is a generic tool for assessing guideline quality. This feasibility study aimed to reduce the ambiguity and subjectivity associated with AGREE item scoring, and to augment the tool's capacity to differentiate between good- and poor-quality guidelines. Note: This is an Alberta…
Written by health policy experts, the book gives a comprehensive overview of 8 different national health care systems and focuses in particular on the different approaches to maintain efficiency and to contain overall healthcare costs. Each chapter identifies the 4-5 specific policies with the highest impact for the respective country over the past 20-30 years and the current policy…
Alberta STE Report written under contract with the Alberta Health Technologies Decision Process (AHTDP). 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…
| Charles Yan, JoAnn Kingston-Riechers, Anderson Chuck
This report provides information regarding the impact of physician reimbursement models on five dimensions specified in the Provincial Alternate Relationship Plan Program Evaluation. The impact of physician reimbursement models were assessed on the following five dimensions: Health service utilization Access to care Quality of services Patient satisfaction Physician satisfaction…
The use of the term “comparative effectiveness” (CE) has attracted considerable attention, particularly in the United States. This booklet examines the concept of CE and its relationship to other assessment frameworks.
This report presents summary information on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Alberta, with comparison to the use of these diagnostic imaging technologies in other jurisdictions. The aims of the report are to: illustrate the capacity in Alberta to diagnose and manage health problems with the help of these important technolgies compare the numbers,…
| David Hailey, Jeremy Grimshaw, Martin Eccles, Craig Mitton, Carol E. Adair, Emily McKenzie, Scott Patten, Brenda Waye-Perry, Leif Rentzhog, Paul Taenzer, Christa Harstall, Saifee Rashiq, Pamela Barton, Don Schopflocher, Lynda Jobin
Effective Dissemination of Findings from Research contains essays resulting from a workshop on effective dissemination of findings from research organized by the Institute of Health Economics. The publication is intended as one of the many available resources on dissemination of research findings for those interested in the subject. Chapter 3 of this report originally appeared…
| Ann Scott, Carmen Moga, Christa Harstall, Jacques Magnan
Abstract: Health technology assessments (HTAs) are an as yet unexploited source of comprehensive, systematically generated information that could be used by research funding agencies to formulate researchable questions that are relevant to decision-makers. We describe a process that was developed for distilling evidence gaps identified in HTAs into researchable questions…
Air ambulance transportation with capabilities to provide advanced life support. The objective of this report is to present and synthesize the available published research evidence on the efficacy/effectiveness, safety, and efficiency of air ambulance transportation (helicopters) with on-board capabilities of advanced life support (ALS). The intent is to use this evidence to inform…
Risk assessment tools for predicting recidivism of spousal violence. The objective of this report is to assess the research evidence on the inter-rater reliability and predictive validity of various risk assessment instruments in predicting male-to-female spousal violence recidivism and lethality in those males who had contact with the police system. Information Specialist: Liz…
Evidence of benefit from telemental health applications: a systematic review.
This review considers the evidence of benefit from use of telemental health (TMH) in studies that had clinical, economic, or administrative outcomes. The review also includes studies that provided information on the accuracy or feasibility of TMH.
Information Specialist: Janice Varney
| Ann Scott, Carmen Moga, Pamela Barton, Saifee Rashiq, Don Schopflocher, Paul Taenzer, Christa Harstall
Rationale and objective: A research translation strategy for chronic pain was developed that has significant potential to advance the usefulness of systematic reviews (SRs) in clinical practice.
Note: This is an Alberta Ambassador Guideline Adaptation Program related publication.
Routine Preoperative Tests - Are They Necessary? is about routine preoperative testing on otherwise healthy patients who are scheduled for elective surgery. This report is a synopsis of the findings from some of the major health technology assessments and systematic reviews on preoperative testing published during the last two decades. The implications of these results for Alberta…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #24. Health technology assessments (HTAs) routinely identify questions or research ‘gaps’ that are not adequately addressed by the primary research. The unique situation of having an HTA unit housed within a provincial research funding organization provided an ideal setting for linking research…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #20. Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is the systematic evaluation of properties, effects and/or other impacts of health care technology. Its primary purpose is to provide objective information to support health care decisions and policy making at the local, regional, national and international levels. NOTE:…
| Saifee Rashiq, Pamela Barton, Christa Harstall, Don Schopflocher, Paul Taenzer
Background: The purpose of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is to make the best possible summary of the evidence regarding specific health interventions in order to influence health care and policy decisions. The need for decision makers to find relevant HTA data when it is needed is a barrier to its usefulness. These barriers are highest in rural areas and amongst isolated…
| Sheri Pohar, Sumit Majumdar, Philip Jacobs, Jeffrey Johnson
Institute of Health Economics Working Paper WP 06-04. The purpose of this analysis was to compare health care utilization as well as costs and mortality of individuals with diabetes in the province of Saskatchewan from 1999 to 2001, according to residential location. NOTE: In 2006 the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research HTA unit moved to IHE. Documents produced in…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #38. This report aims to identify strategies that have been evaluated and reported in the literature and to assess their effectiveness in reducing emergency department overcrowding. Information Specialists: Seana Collins, Liz Dennett NOTE: In 2006 the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research HTA unit moved…
| Margaret Wanke, Don Juzwishin, Richard Thornley, Liza Chan
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #16. The objectives of this review were: To propose a generic evaluation framework for HTA agencies to strengthen their evaluation capacity. To conduct a review of HTA agencies to understand what aspects of HTA agencies have been evaluated, approaches/methods used, outcomes of hte evaluations and to understand…
| David Cooke, Meina Dubetz, Rahim Heshmati, Sandra Iftody, Erin McKimmon, Jodi Powers, Robert Lee, Peter Dunscombe
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #22. We present a model process that will assist health care organizations in developing and implementing a formal management system for learning from incidens. Developed specifically for the Radiation Treatment (RT) Program at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, a major cancer treatment centre in Calgary, Alberta,…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #21. Much of the activity and purpose of HTA is related to interaction with organizations and individuals with interests in the technologies that are being considered. The focus is often stakeholders with major financial or operational responsbilities for health technologies, including government authorities,…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #18. This paper has two specific objectives: to describe some of the challenges of using research evidence to inform healthcare policy making; and to provide policy makers and researchers with a framework or tool that would identify and facilitate the use of research evidence and other information in healthcare…
| Anita Simon, Robert Lee, David Cooke, Diane Lorenzetti
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #17. This paper focuses on incident reporting systems relevant to the hospital and efforts to improve patient safety and clinical outcomes. Costs associated with incident reporting systems are included wherever possible. This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of hospital incident reporting systems in improving…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #19. The intent is to develop an overview as a guide to HTA managers; this paper should be regarded as a vehicle for further discussion on these issues. NOTE: In 2006 the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research HTA unit moved to IHE. Documents produced in and prior to 2006 have different formats; the…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) Information Paper #23. The activities of the HTA Unit in 2002–2003, as reflected in various types of reports it had produced and related dissemination activities, were reviewed in a paper published in 2004. The paper provided an overview of the effectiveness of the Unit as an aid to its future management, drawing on…
| Robert Lee, Karie-Lynn Kelly, Chris Newcomb, David Cooke, Edidiong Ekaette, Peter Craighead, Peter Dunscombe
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #15. This paper summarizes the first steps in a research program designed to inform technology assessment and decision-making associated with radiotherapy (treatment of cancer with ionizing radiation) at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre (TBCC) in Calgary, Alberta. NOTE: In 2006 the Alberta Heritage Foundation for…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Initiative #13. Appraising the quality of evidence is an important, yet difficult task, complicated by the consideration of disparate evidence. Quality checklists for assessing RCTs abound, yet it is acknowledged that even within this single study the reliability, validity, feasibility and utility of the various tools…
Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) HTA Report #25. This report is a systematic review of the literature on the use of computerized electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation for detecting heart conditions as a part of routine medical examinations in healthy adults. The aim of this report is to inform practitioners and other interested parties on the available…