Health technology assessment : HTA
-
Health Technol Assess · Jul 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation of direct versus indirect and individual versus group modes of speech and language therapy for children with primary language impairment.
To compare language outcomes following direct individual therapy [speech and language therapist (SLT) working individually with a child], indirect individual therapy [speech and language therapy assistant (SLTA) working individually with a child], direct group therapy (SLT working with a small group of children) and indirect group therapy (SLTA working with a small group of children) for primary school-age children with persistent primary receptive and/or expressive language impairment relative to a comparison group receiving current models and levels of SLT service. ⋯ SLTAs can act as effective surrogates for SLTs in the delivery of services within primary schools to children with primary language impairment who do not to require the specialist skills of an SLT. Generalising the central estimates of the relative cost of different therapy modes to other educational/health systems is possible, but the precise differences reported in resource use need to be qualified by the level of programme intensity and other characteristic features of education and therapy services that may differ from those observed in this trial. Further research is needed into effective interventions for receptive language problems and also investigations of the efficacy of the relationship between dose and treatment effect in both expressive and receptive language. Research is also needed into models of integrative service delivery, cluster models of delivery via integrated community schools, and the involvement of class teachers, classroom assistants and parents/carers. There is also a need for studies to identify the characteristics of children who are most likely to succeed with indirect intervention approaches, and also to evaluate alternative methods of working with those who may benefit from different modes. Finally, research to refine the therapy manual would also be helpful.
-
Health Technol Assess · May 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyAdditional therapy for young children with spastic cerebral palsy: a randomised controlled trial.
To investigate whether, in the short and medium term, additional support by (a) a physiotherapy assistant improved physical function in young children with spastic cerebral palsy and (b) a family support worker improved family functioning. ⋯ The findings of this study provide support for the current literature that there was no evidence that additional intervention (in this case by a physiotherapy assistant or family support worker) helped the motor or general development of young children with spastic cerebral palsy. Nor was there any quantitative evidence that providing extra family support helped levels of parental stress and family needs. The implication was that the provision of extra physical therapy does not necessarily improve the motor function of a young child with cerebral palsy and additional family support should not automatically be assumed to be beneficial. In addition, no significant association was found between the intensity of the local services provided and any outcome measure, other than a slight association with lowered family needs. The provision of local services was related to the severity of the child's impairments and not to family difficulties. A small group of families with complex family problems needed more service input. There was a wide range in the costs of services. Research is needed to examine what 'sufficient' levels of provision or therapy might be for which children and which families. A time series of different levels of input and outcomes would provide valuable information for practitioners. It is also recommended that future assessments of therapies of this type adopt a similar multifaceted approach, which is likely to be more suitable than a simple RCT for the evaluation of clinical interventions where the effects are complex. The most appropriate measures of outcome should be used, including assessment of provision of information and emotional support for families.
-
Health Technol Assess · Mar 2007
Review Multicenter StudyEpidemiological, social, diagnostic and economic evaluation of population screening for genital chlamydial infection.
To investigate epidemiological, social, diagnostic and economic aspects of chlamydia screening in non-genitourinary medicine settings. ⋯ Proactive screening for chlamydia in women and men using home-collected specimens was feasible and acceptable. Chlamydia prevalence rates in men and women in the general population are similar. Nucleic acid amplification tests can be used on first-catch urine specimens and vulvovaginal swabs. The administrative costs of proactive screening were similar to those for opportunistic screening. Using empirical estimates of screening uptake and incidence of complications, screening was not cost-effective.
-
Health Technol Assess · Oct 2006
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyWhat are the clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness of endoscopy undertaken by nurses when compared with doctors? A Multi-Institution Nurse Endoscopy Trial (MINuET).
To compare the clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness of doctors and nurses undertaking upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. ⋯ There is no statistically significant difference between doctors and nurses in their clinical effectiveness in diagnostic endoscopy. However, nurses are significantly more thorough in the examination of oesophagus and stomach, and patients are significantly more satisfied after endoscopy by a nurse. Endoscopy by doctors is associated with better outcome at 1 year at higher cost, but overall is likely to be cost-effective. Further research is needed to evaluate the clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness of nurses undertaking a greater role in other settings, to monitor the cost-effectiveness of nurse endoscopists as they become more experienced and to assess, the effect of increasing the number of nurse endoscopists on waiting times for patients, and the career implications and opportunities for nurses who become trained endoscopists. Evaluation of the clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness of diagnostic endoscopy for all current indications is also needed.
-
Health Technol Assess · Aug 2006
Review Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyAn evaluation of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of pulmonary artery catheters in patient management in intensive care: a systematic review and a randomised controlled trial.
To evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of managing critically ill patients in adult, general intensive care with or without pulmonary artery catheters (PACs). ⋯ Clinical management of critically ill patients with a PAC, as currently practised in the UK, neither improves hospital survival for adult, general intensive care patients nor reduces length of stay in hospital. The lack of demonstrable benefit from a device previously believed to be beneficial could be explained by statistical chance, by misinterpretation of PAC-derived data, by ineffective treatment strategies based on data correctly interpreted using the current paradigm or by subsequent inaction following insertion of the device. It is also possible that detailed data on haemodynamics, however used, cannot modify the disease process sufficiently to influence disease outcome. The economic evaluation, using decision analysis techniques rather than conventional hypothesis testing, suggests that the withdrawal of the PAC from routine clinical practice in the NHS would be considered cost-effective in the current decision-making climate, and might result in lives or life-years being saved at modest cost. With the declining use of PACs in the UK and the findings of this report indicating no overall benefit from management with a PAC, it should now be possible to examine protocolised management with a PAC in selected groups of critically ill patients against appropriate controls, something that was difficult while PACs were the considered standard of care.