Stakeholder Engagement in HTA: A Matter for Consensus?

OBJECTIVES: Consensus methods enable structured and transparent engagement with varied stakeholder groups, enhancing the understanding of the value of health innovations. This study investigated the applicability of consensus research for stakeholder engagement in evidence generation for Health Technology Assessment (HTA).

METHODS: A panel of experts in consensus research and HTA, including a patient representative and representatives from an HTA agency and industry, recently presented their insights on consensus research in HTA. A survey was subsequently developed to gather insights, from the broader HTA community, on the use of consensus research in HTA including potential benefits and areas for improvement. The consensus survey was distributed via email, at the HTAi 2024 conference, and via relevant interest groups.

RESULTS: The results of the survey indicate the importance of consensus methods in facilitating informed decision-making across diverse HTA needs. Specific areas of benefit include providing a validated framework for stakeholder engagement, addressing engagement, and enhancing patient involvement. In addition, the results highlight the potential value of consensus research for standardising PICOS across European countries under the EU HTA Regulation. Areas identified for improvement included developing a clearer, and more widely accepted, definition of expertise in consensus panels to accurately reflect the contribution of patient experts, and the need to improve the reporting of consensus research to increase trust and confidence in findings. In addition, responses suggest a lack of methodological guidelines to validate and structure the use of consensus research in HTA.

CONCLUSIONS: The HTA community view consensus research as a valuable tool for gathering insights in areas with evidence gaps, high uncertainty, or conflicting opinions. However, there is a need for further validation from both HTA agencies and academia, including the development of methodological guidelines and clarification on the accepted purposes of this methodology from HTA bodies.