Health technology assessment in traditional and complementary medicine: a scoping review of international activity and examples of acupuncture.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to construct a practical value framework for traditional non-pharmacological therapies, focusing on acupuncture, by identifying evaluation domains and obstacles.
Results Summary
The study found that acupuncture was evaluated for various conditions, with chronic pain being the most common, and that safety, effectiveness, and economy were commonly adopted evaluation domains. The biggest challenge identified was the scarcity of high-quality clinical evidence.
Population
Not specified (general focus on countries like the UK, Singapore, Canada, the US, and Malaysia).
Effective Dosage
Not mentioned
Duration
Not mentioned
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
health technology assessment (HTA) | neutral | healthcare policy decisions | China's healthcare policymakers | - | is a decision-making supportive tool | #1 |
value assessment framework for Chinese patent medicine (CPM) | neutral | value assessment | research institutions | - | is being adopted and validated widely | #2 |
acupuncture | neutral | various conditions | United Kingdom, Singapore, Canada, the United States, and Malaysia | - | had HTA evaluation carried out | #3 |
acupuncture | neutral | chronic pain | - | - | was the most common condition for HTA evaluation | #4 |
HTA results for acupuncture | neutral | acupuncture reimbursement | UK and Singapore | - | applied to support reimbursement decisions | #5 |
traditional non-pharmacological therapies | neutral | evaluation | - | - | has the biggest challenge of scarce high-quality clinical evidence | #6 |
BACKGROUND: Traditional therapies are crucial in maintaining and improving human well-being. China's healthcare policymakers are attempting to use health technology assessment (HTA) as a decision-making supportive tool. The value assessment framework for Chinese patent medicine (CPM) has been developed and is being adopted and validated widely by research institutions. Subsequently, the healthcare decision-makers particularly hanker for the value framework of traditional non-pharmacological therapies. METHODS: To construct a practical value framework for traditional non-pharmacological therapies, a scoping review methodology was adopted to identify the evaluation domains and obstacles. A search, screening, and analysis process was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Evidence was retrieved from scientific databases and HTA agencies' websites. RESULTS: The search strategy identified 5 guidelines records and 17 acupuncture HTA reports. By synthesizing the valuable reports of CPM and acupuncture evaluation in representative countries, this study found that Mainland China was promoting the comprehensive value assessment of CPM, whereas the United Kingdom, Singapore, Canada, the United States, and Malaysia had carried out the HTA evaluation of acupuncture for various conditions among which chronic pain was the most common. UK and Singapore applied the HTA results to support acupuncture reimbursement decisions. Three domains, including safety, effectiveness, and economy, were commonly adopted. The identified biggest challenge of evaluating traditional non-pharmacological therapies is the scarce high-quality clinical evidence. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified value domains and issues of traditional therapies, and pointed out future research implications, to promote the development value framework of traditional therapies.