Information specialist collaboration in Europe: collaborative methods, processes, and infrastructure through EUnetHTA.

The history of European health technology assessment (HTA) goes back more than 30 years. Almost as old as HTA agencies themselves is the desire to achieve European collaboration. This gained further impetus with the establishment of the European Network of Health Technology Assessment (EUnetHTA) in 2006. In this context, the field of information management faced specific challenges. Although these services are an integral part of HTA and information specialists play a key role here, this field is often not adequately represented in the HTA agencies within EUnetHTA. Furthermore, the organization of HTA production, including the types of HTAs produced, as well as funding, varies considerably. In order to meet these different conditions, information specialists have created various products and defined processes. With the EUnetHTA guideline, a common methodological understanding for the production of rapid Relative Effectiveness Assessments now exists. Furthermore, the Standard Operating Procedures map the complex information retrieval processes within EUnetHTA in a hands-on manner. The newly established Information Specialist Network (ISN) will in future ensure that information specialists are involved in all EUnetHTA assessments and that the methods are applied consistently in all assessments. In addition, the steering committee of the ISN manages enquiries and can be contacted to discuss methodological issues. Major barriers such as heterogeneity in the daily work of the EUnetHTA members can only be overcome through more collaboration and training.

Guía para el uso apropiado de artroplastia de rodilla en pacientes con artrosis en el SSPA: documento completo / Guide for the appropriate use of knee arthroplasty in patients with osteoarthritis in the SSPA: full document

La guía tiene por objetivo ofrecer a los profesionales implicados en el manejo de la artroplastia de rodilla un conjunto de recomendaciones basadas en la mejor evidencia científica disponible, como herramienta de ayuda a la toma de decisiones, con el fin último de optimizar los resultados en salud, disminuir la variabilidad de la práctica clínica y maximizar la eficiencia. Como objetivos específicos se formulan los siguientes: valorar la efectividad de la artroplastia de rodilla para disminuir el dolor, la rigidez y la limitación funcional de los pacientes con artrosis en dicha articulación, así como para mejorar su calidad de vida; valorar la seguridad de la artroplastia de rodilla -en términos de complicaciones incluyendo mortalidad- en pacientes con artrosis; determinar las características de los pacientes con artrosis de rodilla, en los que la artroplastia de rodilla ha resultado efectiva en la disminución del dolor y complicaciones, así como en la mejora de la rigidez, limitación funcional y calidad de vida.