Methodology for HTA within the CLEAR tele-rehabilitation project

Aim of this paper is to introduce the methodological approach adopted within the European CLEAR project to perform the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) of the tele-rehabilitation service provided with the Habilis Platform. The HTA adopted approach has been refined by taking into account: the main HTA methodologies related to the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Healthcare and international proposals for standardisation of the procedures, with particular reference to the EUnetHTA European project. The proposed model is based on nine dimensions to be investigated. Work is still in progress; before the start of the clinical trials, the model has been completed with a set of tools to be used for collecting information related to each single dimension. The most important tool is called “Clinical_study_and_HTA” and is aimed at harmonizing clinical studies in a standardised structure for collecting structured information and evaluating their quality with respect to HTA purposes and needs to be assessed by using validated Quality Appraisal Tools. Currently, clinical trials are near to start, as well as the retrieval of those HTA information which form the background dataset of each clinical study. After the conclusion of the data collection phase of the whole HTA process, the study will be continued with the analysis of evidence and the preparation and delivery of proper HTA Report.