Developing and implementing a protocol for evaluating patient involvement in health technology assessment: the experience of the Spanish HTA network (RedETS)
13 affiliations
- 1Basque Office for HTA (Osteba), Basque Foundation for Health Innovation and Research (BIOEF), Bilbao, Spain
- 2University of the Basque Country (EHU), Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Leioa, Spain
- 3Spanish Network of Agencies for Assessing National Health System Technologies and Performance, Madrid, Spain
- 4Scientific Unit, Galician Health Knowledge Agency (Avalia-t, ACIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- 5Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia (AQuAS), Department of Health, Barcelona, Spain
- 6Health Technology Assessment Agency, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
- 7Canary Islands Health Research Institute Foundation, Canary Islands Health Service, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- 8Network for Research on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), Tenerife, Spain
- 9Aragon Health Sciences Institute (IACS), Zaragoza, Spain
- 10Andalusian Health Technology Assessment Area (AETSA), Andalusian Public Foundation Progress and Health, Seville, Spain
- 11Health Technology Assessment Unit of the Community of Madrid (UETS), Madrid, Spain
- 12Technical Secretariat of the Spanish Network of Agencies for Assessing National Health System Technologies and Performance, Madrid, Spain
- 13Spanish Scientific Research Council (CSIC), Institute for Advanced Social Studies (IESA-CSIC), Córdoba, Spain
Abstract
Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe the development and first implementation of a protocol for evaluating patient involvement in health technology assessment (HTA) within the Spanish HTA Network (RedETS), establishing a framework for continuous monitoring across agencies.
Methods: A multi-phase process informed protocol development. Indicators were proposed and refined based on international evidence and RedETS experience. Three concise questionnaires were designed for agency leads, HTA coordinators, and patients, and improved through consultation and pilot testing. The first evaluation cycle was conducted in March 2025 via online surveys. Quantitative data were summarized descriptively, and qualitative responses analyzed thematically. A stakeholder meeting reviewed findings.
Results: Responses were received from all eight agencies, the coordinators of all forty-nine HTA reports published during the study period, and ten of the thirty-three patients involved in these reports. Twenty reports (41 percent) included patient involvement, mainly through protocol review, draft validation, consultation meetings, or qualitative research. Twenty-nine reports (59 percent) had no patient involvement; among these, six of twenty-nine (21 percent) had attempted recruitment but could not implement it due to recruitment or organizational barriers. In reports with involvement, participation represented a small proportion of assessment time and often relied on a single patient. Patient respondents valued their contribution but noted unclear expectations, technical language, and limited feedback.
Conclusions: The protocol proved feasible and valuable for monitoring whether, how, and when patients are involved in HTA. Strengthening planning, recruitment, and feedback will support more meaningful engagement. RedETS provides a scalable model for continuous monitoring in HTA.
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BibTeX
@article{reviriegorodrigo2026developing,
title = {{Developing and implementing a protocol for evaluating patient involvement in health technology assessment: the experience of the Spanish HTA network (RedETS)}},
author = {Eva Reviriego-Rodrigo and Paula Cantero-Muñoz and Laura Llinàs-Mallol and Begoña Rodríguez-Ortiz de Salazar and Vanesa Ramos-García and Analía Abt-Sacks and Matilde Palma-Ruiz and Anabel Granja-Dominguez and Gustavo Mora-Navarro and Beatriz Fernández-Martín and Celia Juárez-Rojo and Ana Toledo-Chávarri},
journal = {International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1017/s0266462326104085},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s0266462326104085},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Developing and implementing a protocol for evaluating patient involvement in health technology assessment: the experience of the Spanish HTA network (RedETS)
AU - Eva Reviriego-Rodrigo
AU - Paula Cantero-Muñoz
AU - Laura Llinàs-Mallol
AU - Begoña Rodríguez-Ortiz de Salazar
AU - Vanesa Ramos-García
AU - Analía Abt-Sacks
AU - Matilde Palma-Ruiz
AU - Anabel Granja-Dominguez
AU - Gustavo Mora-Navarro
AU - Beatriz Fernández-Martín
AU - Celia Juárez-Rojo
AU - Ana Toledo-Chávarri
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/29
JO - International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care
DO - 10.1017/s0266462326104085
UR - https://doi.org/10.1017/s0266462326104085
AB - Objectives: The objective of this study is to describe the development and first implementation of a protocol for evaluating patient involvement in health technology assessment (HTA) within the Spanish HTA Network (RedETS), establishing a framework for continuous monitoring across agencies. Methods: A multi-phase process informed protocol development. Indicators were proposed and refined based on international evidence and RedETS experience. Three concise questionnaires were designed for agency leads, HTA coordinators, and patients, and improved through consultation and pilot testing. The first evaluation cycle was conducted in March 2025 via online surveys. Quantitative data were summarized descriptively, and qualitative responses analyzed thematically. A stakeholder meeting reviewed findings. Results: Responses were received from all eight agencies, the coordinators of all forty-nine HTA reports published during the study period, and ten of the thirty-three patients involved in these reports. Twenty reports (41 percent) included patient involvement, mainly through protocol review, draft validation, consultation meetings, or qualitative research. Twenty-nine reports (59 percent) had no patient involvement; among these, six of twenty-nine (21 percent) had attempted recruitment but could not implement it due to recruitment or organizational barriers. In reports with involvement, participation represented a small proportion of assessment time and often relied on a single patient. Patient respondents valued their contribution but noted unclear expectations, technical language, and limited feedback. Conclusions: The protocol proved feasible and valuable for monitoring whether, how, and when patients are involved in HTA. Strengthening planning, recruitment, and feedback will support more meaningful engagement. RedETS provides a scalable model for continuous monitoring in HTA.
SN - 0266-4623
SN - 1471-6348
ER -