Development and Validation of the TRansparent Uncertainty ASsessmenT (TRUST) Tool for Assessing Uncertainties in Health Economic Decision Models
Publication year
2020Source
Pharmacoeconomics, 38, 2, (2020), pp. 205-216ISSN
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

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Organization
Health Evidence
Operating Rooms
Journal title
Pharmacoeconomics
Volume
vol. 38
Issue
iss. 2
Page start
p. 205
Page end
p. 216
Subject
Radboudumc 15: Urological cancers RIHS: Radboud Institute for Health SciencesAbstract
BACKGROUND: An increasing number of technologies are obtaining marketing authorisation based on sparse evidence, which causes growing uncertainty and risk within health technology reimbursement decision making. To ensure that uncertainty is considered and addressed within health technology assessment (HTA) recommendations, uncertainties need to be identified, included in health economic models, and reported. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to develop the TRansparent Uncertainty ASsessmenT (TRUST) tool for systematically identifying, assessing, and reporting uncertainties in decision models, with the aim of making uncertainties and their impact on cost effectiveness more explicit and transparent. METHODS: TRUST was developed by drawing on the uncertainty and risk assessment literature. To develop and validate this tool, we conducted HTA stakeholder discussion meetings and interviews and applied it in six real-world HTA case studies in the Netherlands and the UK. RESULTS: The TRUST tool enables the identification and categorisation of uncertainty according to its source (transparency issues, methodology issues, and issues with evidence: imprecision, bias and indirectness, and unavailability) in each model aspect. The source of uncertainty determines the appropriate analysis. The impact of uncertainties on cost effectiveness is also assessed. Stakeholders found using the tool to be feasible and of value for transparent uncertainty assessment. TRUST can be used during model development and/or model review. CONCLUSION: The TRUST tool enables systematic identification, assessment, and reporting of uncertainties in health economic models and may contribute to more informed and transparent decision making in the face of uncertainty.
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- Academic publications [227693]
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- Faculty of Medical Sciences [86198]
- Open Access publications [76433]
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