Health technology assessment : HTA
-
Health Technol Assess · Jan 2011
ReviewLapatinib and trastuzumab in combination with an aromatase inhibitor for the first-line treatment of metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer which over-expresses human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2): a systematic review and economic analysis.
Breast cancer is the uncontrolled, abnormal growth of malignant breast tissue affecting predominantly women. Metastatic breast cancer (mBC) is an advanced stage of the disease when the disease has spread beyond the original organ. Hormone receptor status and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) status are two predictive factors that are taken into consideration when estimating the prognosis of patients with breast cancer. ⋯ The National Institute for Health Research Technology Assessment programme.
-
Health Technol Assess · Jan 2011
ReviewPalivizumab for immunoprophylaxis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in high-risk infants and young children: a systematic review and additional economic modelling of subgroup analyses.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a seasonal infectious disease, with epidemics occurring annually from October to March in the UK. It is a very common infection in infants and young children and can lead to hospitalisation, particularly in those who are premature or who have chronic lung disease (CLD) or congenital heart disease (CHD). Palivizumab (Synagis®, MedImmune) is a monoclonal antibody designed to provide passive immunity against RSV and thereby prevent or reduce the severity of RSV infection. It is licensed for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract infection caused by RSV in children at high risk. While it is recognised that a policy of using palivizumab for all children who meet the licensed indication does not meet conventional UK standards of cost-effectiveness, most clinicians feel that its use is justified in some children. ⋯ This report was funded by the HTA programme of the National Institute for Health Research.
-
Health Technol Assess · Jan 2011
ReviewPositron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the assessment of axillary lymph node metastases in early breast cancer: systematic review and economic evaluation.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. Evaluation of axillary lymph node metastases is important for breast cancer staging and treatment planning. ⋯ This study was funded by the Health Technology Assessment programme of the National Institute of Health Research.
-
Health Technol Assess · Jan 2011
Assessing the surgical skills of trainees in the operating theatre: a prospective observational study of the methodology.
To compare user satisfaction and acceptability, reliability and validity of three different methods of assessing the surgical skills of trainees by direct observation in the operating theatre across a range of different surgical specialties and index procedures. ⋯ The results suggest that PBA is a reliable and acceptable method of assessing surgical skills, with good construct validity. Specialties that use OSATS may wish to consider changing the design or switching to PBA. Whatever workplace-based assessment method is used, the purpose, timing and frequency of assessment require detailed guidance. NOTSS is a promising tool for the assessment of non-technical skills, and surgical specialties may wish to consider its inclusion in their assessment framework. Further research is required into the use of health-care professionals other than consultant surgeons to assess trainees, the relationship between performance and experience, the educational impact of assessment and the additional value of video recording.
-
Health Technol Assess · Dec 2010
Multicenter StudyObservational study to investigate vertically acquired passive immunity in babies of mothers vaccinated against H1N1v during pregnancy.
The primary objective was to determine the proportion of babies who acquired passive immunity to A/H1N1v, born to mothers who accepted vaccination as part of the national vaccination programme while pregnant (during the second and/or third trimesters) against the novel A/H1N1v influenza virus (exposed group) compared with unvaccinated (unexposed) mothers. ⋯ The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme.