International journal of technology assessment in health care
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Int J Technol Assess Health Care · Jan 1998
ReviewSpeaking up for ourselves. The evolution of consumer advocacy in health care.
Forces from communities and from health care are pushing toward more consumer involvement in health care internationally. This article addresses the philosophies and rationales behind this trend and traces the history and development of consumer advocacy in health care.
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Int J Technol Assess Health Care · Jan 1996
ReviewInfluences on the quality of published drug studies.
To practice evidence-based medicine, physicians need data on the clinical effectiveness, toxicity, convenience, and cost of new drugs compared with available alternatives. We give examples of published drug studies that are defective, sometimes because pharmaceutical industry funding has affected their content and quality. We make recommendations on how to avoid these defects.
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Int J Technol Assess Health Care · Jan 1995
ReviewInvesting in health wisely. The role of needs-based technology assessment.
Countries worldwide spend huge sums on health--about $1,700 billion a year, or roughly 8% of global income. But the World Development Report 1993: Investing in Health shows that these monies could be spent much more wisely, in the process doing a great deal to help the world's 1 billion poor. ⋯ This is a good example of the concept of needs-based technology assessment, combining the disciplines of epidemiology, economics, and policy formulation. When applied, it should lead to improved effectiveness, efficiency, and equity.
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Int J Technol Assess Health Care · Jan 1992
ReviewProblems in assessing the technology of critical care medicine.
Technology assessment is becoming increasingly important in the area of critical care due both to the explosion of technology associated with this discipline and to the realization that future demand for these health care resources will undoubtedly exceed the ability to pay. Technology assessment remains both confusing and controversial to many physicians. ⋯ From there, problems and prospects for the evaluation of critical care as a program are presented, followed by the assessment of components within the area of critical care. Finally, recommendations are made on how technology assessment could proceed in the future to best achieve the efficient provision of this service.
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Int J Technol Assess Health Care · Jan 1992
ReviewNeonatal intensive care. When and where is it justified?
There is a wide panorama of disorders in the newborn infant where neonatal intensive care has been proven effective in reducing mortality. Although modern neonatal intensive care can be very costly, short and simple interventions for support and resuscitation still can be highly beneficial. In reviewing the field of neonatal intensive care during the 1980s, it becomes evident that a major challenge for the future will be to apply physiological principles of great and proven value for the newborn baby to more simple devices. Only thereby can the technology of neonatal care defined as a complex of actions-not only equipment and techniques-become justified for future generations.