Enhancing the reproducibility of Health Technology Assessments - A case study in psoriatic arthritis

Abstract: Health Technology Assessment aims to provide policy guidance on the basis of current evidence. To accomplish this, regular iteration is necessary to incorporate new information that is relevant to a given decision problem. However, the process of updating a previously commissioned HTA often involves a duplication of the original effort. The inefficient nature of HTA iteration may be attributable to the narrow application of computing to specific simulations or analyses. In other scientific fields, similar challenges have been resolved through an emphasis on reproducibility. This refers to the ability to obtain consistent computational results, using the same set of files and processes. A systematic review was conducted to identify computing strategies known to enhance the reproducibility of scientific research. The identified strategies were subsequently applied in the redevelopment of a NICE commissioned HTA. The objective of this presentation is to demonstrate how reproducibility can support the effective development and maintenance of Health Technology Assessments. First, it will summarize a series of computing strategies which can be used to enhance the reproducibility of a systematic review and economic evaluation. Second, the procedural and methodological impacts of these strategies will be summarized using the case study of Biologic treatment for Psoriatic Arthritis.