1.       Evidence for HTA: Innovative Methods for Challenging Times

2.       Patients at the Heart of Innovation

3.       Innovating HTA to support Novel Interventions

1.       HTA Processes

• Core concepts, Introduction to HTA
• Novel approaches to conducting HTA (e.g., Fast Track Appraisals, AI in review production Adapting Existing HTAs, Integrated HTA)
• Horizon Scanning, Early Awareness
• HTA Prioritization Deliberative Processes (e.g. Citizen’s Juries, Citizen’s Councils, Delphi Panels, Consensus Meetings, Expert Elicitation Methods, Advisory Committees, etc.)
• Measuring the Impact of HTA
• Reassessment and Disinvestment

2.       HTA Core Methods

• Topic Refinement, Scoping
• Information Retrieval, Database Search Methods
• Study design (Randomized clinical trials, knowledge synthesis, adaptive designs)
• Outcome measurement: Patient-Reported Outcomes, patient preferences, clinical effectiveness
• Evidence Review and Synthesis (e.g., Rapid Reviews, Meta-analysis, Network Meta-Analysis, Living Systematic Reviews)
• Evidence Quality (e.g. Rating/Grading, Bias, Transferability and Generalisability, evidence reporting)
• Economic Evaluation (e.g. Cost Effectiveness Analysis, Cost Benefit Analysis, etc.)
• Budget Impact Analysis
• Pricing Models and Approaches (e.g. Reference Prices, Cost Plus, Value-Based Pricing, etc.)
• Ethical evaluation in of HTA
• Social evaluation Aspects of HTA
• Cultural Aspects of HTA
• Legal Aspects of HTA
• Organizational Aspects of HTA
• Environmental Aspects of HTA
• Measuring and Valuing Health
• Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

 3.       Stakeholder Involvement in HTA

• HTA and Shared Decision-Making
• Patient Involvement
• Public Involvement
• Engagement with Industry
• Engagement with Payers
• Engagement with Regulators
• Engagement with Health Care Professionals
• Facilitating Multi-stakeholder engagement, co-creation
• Teaching and learning through Social networks/media
• HTA in the Media (e.g. Specialist, General, Social Media, Includes Misinformation and Fake News)

 4.       HTA Findings, Advanced Methods and Other Topics

• HTA and Procurement (National, or setting based)
• HTA and Health Technology Management
• Technology Innovation, research, and development, early HTA
• Novel approaches to conducting HTA (e.g., Fast Track Appraisals, AI in review production Adapting Existing HTAs, Integrated HTA)
• Real World Data/Evidence
• Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Methods
• Procedures and Other Interventions (e.g. Surgery, Non-Pharmacological/Non-Device Interventions)
• Tests (Including Screening, Predictive, Diagnostic, Companion Diagnostics, Biomarkers, etc.)
• Innovative Pharmaceuticals and Biologics (Including Genetic Therapies, Immunotherapies, etc.)
• Assessment of Medical Devices
• Public Health Interventions (e.g. Screening Programs, Immunization Programs)
• Health Systems Research
• Health and Social Services
• Models and Methods of Hospital-Based HTA
• Digital Health (e.g. wearable tracking devices)
• Telehealth (e.g. telemonitoring, remote consultations, etc.)
• Mobile-Health (e.g. Health Apps)
• Personalised Medicine Interventions (e.g. Prediction Models, etc.)
• Research on Research
• Aligning HTA and Clinical Practice Guidelines (e.g. case studies, methods and processes, etc.)
• Other HTA findings

5.       Policy Issues In HTA

• Globalisation
• Universal Health Coverage and HTA
• Health System Quality Assessment
• Regulatory-HTA Alignment
• Value-Based Health Policy and Value Frameworks
• Translating HTA Findings into Policy and Practice (Including Evidence-to-Decision Frameworks)
• Dissemination via Journal Publication
• Transferability of HTA Findings Across Jurisdictions
• Capacity Building in HTA, Enhancing Skills and Capabilities at Country and Regional Level
• Country-Specific HTA and Regional HTA Networks
• Comparative HTA Systems and Emerging Markets
• Measuring the Impact of HTA

 6.       Other Topics

• Emergency Response (e.g. COVID-19)
• Other

Deadline for Oral and Poster Presentation submissions (2nd call): March 1, 2021

a)    General submission details:

•       All proposals must be submitted via the online abstract submission system. HTAi will accept proposals by email from people who have conditions that prevent them using the online submission system.

•       Abstract submissions must include a brief description (less than 60 words) that would allow delegates to assess relevance and interest to them. Descriptions will be displayed on the Annual Meeting website and mobile app, in the program and in the abstract book. 

•       Submitters may return to the online abstract submission system to edit their draft abstracts; add or delete authors, moderators or presenters; revise information; or withdraw abstracts at any time before the submission deadline.

•       Accepted abstracts will be published in the Annual Meeting materials (e.g. website, mobile app, program and abstract book) as submitted. Changes to abstracts will not be accepted after the submission deadline.

•       If authors wish their abstracts to go into the Supplement of International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care (IJTAHC), a fully completed copyright form must accompany the submission. Link to the Copyright Assignment Form. The abstracts that will be published in the Supplementary Issue of International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care might be subject to further review and authors might be contacted for revisions.

•       Abstract submissions and presentations must be in English.

•       Abstract submissions must not include references; however, the ISPC strongly encourages presenters to include all appropriate citations in their presentation at the Annual Meeting.

•       Abstract submissions must not include tables, figures or charts.

•       Please spell out all acronyms on first use.

•       Abstract submissions and presentations must not promote any product or service.

•       Abstract submission and presentation expenses are the responsibility of the abstract submitter (primary contact) and presenter. For presenters requiring financial support to attend the Annual Meeting, HTAi offers a limited number of Travel Grants each year (subject to conditions and availability).

•       The abstract or work summarized in the abstract must be the sole work of the submitter or associated persons/authors; the abstract must not contain information with respect to which such person or persons is/are subject to an obligation of confidentiality; and the abstract must not infringe the copyright or moral right of any other person.

•       The presenters of research are required to declare sources of funding for their presented work.

•       Local Organizing Committee members, HTAi partner organizations and Interest Group Chairs should contact the ISPC Co-Chairs with their relevant abstract submission numbers to inform them about their official submissions.

b)    Workshop and Panel submission details:

•         For workshops and panels, the abstract text must not exceed 210 words. Word count will include the introduction, structure of the session, objectives and outcomes. For workshops, you will need to specify target audience and method of interactive activities.

•         The title must not exceed 18 words and must accurately reflect content.

•         Please make sure your abstract title fits within the allotted space and is written in title case (i.e.: An Introduction To Health Technology Assessment).

•         Title, chairs and presenters as well as affiliated institutes are not included in the word count.

•         For a panel of 75 minutes, please limit your presenters to a maximum of five (5).

c)    Oral, Vignette and Poster submission details:

•         For oral, vignette and poster presentations, the abstract text must not exceed 320 words. Word count will include the introduction, methods, results and conclusions.

•         Title, authors and affiliated institutes are not included in the word count.

•         Title must not exceed 18 words and must accurately reflect content.

•         Please make sure your abstract title fits within the allotted space and is written in title case (i.e.: An Introduction To Health Technology Assessment).

a)    Review: All abstracts will be peer reviewed by three experts identified by the HTAi International Scientific Program Committee (ISPC). Panel and workshop submissions will be reviewed by members of the ISPC. Oral, vignette and poster submissions will be reviewed by a broad group of reviewers, coordinated by the HTAi Secretariat, which will include ISPC members and a selected group of experts in the HTA field. Final decisions about inclusion and organization of the program will be made by the ISPC, led by the ISPC Co-Chairs.

 

b)    Abstract acceptance and notifications:

•         Workshops and Panels: After review, the abstract’s primary contact will receive an email notification indicating the abstracts acceptance or rejection by November 17, 2020. Registration for the Annual Meeting must be submitted by April 30, 2021 (early bird registration deadline), to ensure inclusion in the Annual Meeting program.

 

•         Oral, Vignette and Poster Presentations: After review, the abstract’s primary contact will receive an email notification indicating the abstract’s acceptance or rejection by February 1, 2021 (1st call) or April 2, 2021 (2nd call). Registration for the Annual Meeting must be submitted by April 30, 2021 (Early Bird Registration Deadline), to ensure inclusion in the Annual Meeting program.

 

c)    Final inclusion in the official Annual Meeting Program:

•         Workshops and Panels: Until the Early Bird Deadline (April 30, 2021), at least one of the named chairs/moderators must be registered for the Annual Meeting to confirm the final inclusion in the official Annual Meeting Program. Panels and Workshops which do not fulfill this requirement will be withdrawn from the program.

 

•         Oral, Vignette and Poster Presentations: Until the Early Bird Deadline (April 30, 2021), the abstract’s primary presenter must be registered for the Annual Meeting to confirm the final inclusion in the official Annual Meeting Program. Oral, Vignette and Poster Presentations which do not fulfill this requirement will be withdrawn from the program.

a.    Annual Meeting Materials:

•         Submission of abstracts constitutes all authors’ consent to have their abstracts published on the HTAi 2021 website, mobile app, within the program and abstract book. 

•         Please review your abstract prior to submission; check grammar and spelling and ensure all special characters and formatting display correctly. Accepted abstracts will be published in the Annual Meeting Materials (e.g. website, mobile app, program and abstract book) as submitted. Changes to abstracts will not be accepted after the Submission Deadline.

 

b.    Supplementary Issue of the International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care: Accepted abstracts of Oral, Vignette and Poster presentations have the possibility to be published in a Supplementary Issue of the International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care. Abstract submitters will be able to provide their consent for publication in the abstract submission form. Once abstracts have been accepted for the official program, there will be an editing process and if any major changes are recommended these will be communicated to the abstract submitter (primary contact). If authors would like to have their abstracts to go into the Supplement of IJTAHC then a fully completed copyright form must accompany the submission. Link to the Copyright Assignment Form. The Supplementary Issue will be published ahead of the meeting.

• challenging existing paradigms or HTA practice,
• addressing an innovative hypothesis or critical barriers/issues to progress, and
• developing or enhancing novel concepts, approaches or methodologies, tools, or technologies for this area.

Title: must not exceed 18 words, with no abbreviations and the beginning of each word is capitalized.

Introduction: Include the scientific background and rationale for the panel or workshop, and a clear statement of the issue. Must be clearly stated to achieve the highest score.

Structure of the session: Give the structure of your workshop/panel (e.g. presenters, timing, format of interaction, etc.) and your plans to generate a vibrant discussion or learning environment.

Panel/Workshop outcome and objectives: Explain what you would like to accomplish during your workshop/panel session, the session’s contribution to HTA capacity building as well as the benefits and takeaways for the audience or participants.

Moderators/Presenters: Include name, organization, position of all presenters, as well as the title (or brief description) of their specific contribution. Only confirmed moderators/presenters can be submitted with your application.

Declaration of funding: Please declare sources of funding of the research.

Basic quality: Workshops and panel abstracts should be appropriately summarised, and grammar and spelling should be checked.

Title: must not exceed 18 words, with no abbreviations and the beginning of each word is capitalized.

Introduction: Include the scientific background and rationale, and give a clear statement of the problem, issue, study goal, objectives, and/or research hypothesis. Must be clearly stated to achieve the highest score.

Methods: For quantitative and related studies, include a clear statement of the perspective, data collected, sources of data, analyses including statistical testing, etc. Clearly describe the populations studied, method of accrual and sample frame and analytical techniques. For conceptual, institutional, organizational or policy papers, provide a concise description of the content of the paper or report to be presented and other relevant factors such as policy analysis of alternatives, details of qualitative methods, etc.

Results: Present the most important study findings including generalizability to other populations, health systems or countries if relevant. Abstracts must reflect work that has already been done (i.e. results available) or at least provide preliminary results suggesting that the work is in progress and that results will be available to present at the Annual Meeting. 

Conclusions: Provide a concise statement on the most important findings or policy implications.  You should also address the question, “What do these results mean for your main area of research?” If relevant, include next steps, proposals for further research and study limitations.

Declaration of funding: Please declare sources of funding of the research.

Basic quality: Oral, poster and vignette abstracts should be appropriately summarised, and grammar and spelling should be checked.

•         American spelling (unless title is non-US English)

•         Title – start of all words capitalized, no abbreviations

•         Define all abbreviations on first use

•         Use the word ‘percent’ rather than %

(except for when using with numbers for Confidence intervals – stated as 95% CI)

•         Confidence Interval - define first i.e. Confidence Interval (95% CI: 0.33 - 2.4)

•         All numbers less than 1 have a 0 in front e.g. p< 0.001

•         For numeric lists use Arabic letters in parentheses (i), (ii), (iii)

•         i.e., e.g., etc. must be spelled out – that is, for example and etcetera if as part of main text. In brackets abbreviations are allowed.

•         Numbers up to 100 spelled out and for 100 and over given as a numeral, but numerals for units of time and measurement.

•         Dates must be in form of 8 June 1960 and not 8/6/60 or 6/8/60

•         Currency should be given using currency abbreviations (see www.xe.com/iso4217.php) and must always include a conversion to USD or EUR as well as the local currency value i.e. in parentheses after the initial currency [i.e. (USD ___) or (EUR ___)]

•         No Tables, Figures and Charts allowed

•         No references allowed

•         Results must be provided for publishing in supplement