Enhancing Patient Engagement in HTA: Using Consensus Research to Overcome PICO Scoping Challenges Under the EU HTAR

The evolving landscape of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in Europe, shaped by the implementation of the new EU HTA Regulation (HTAR), places an emphasis on engaging all stakeholders, including patients, in collaborative evidence generation. Yet integrating patients’ perspectives into critical pr...

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Main Authors: Emanuele Arcà, Adele Barlassina, Adaeze Eze, Valentina Strammiello
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Market Access & Health Policy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2001-6689/13/2/27
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author Emanuele Arcà
Adele Barlassina
Adaeze Eze
Valentina Strammiello
author_facet Emanuele Arcà
Adele Barlassina
Adaeze Eze
Valentina Strammiello
author_sort Emanuele Arcà
collection DOAJ
description The evolving landscape of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in Europe, shaped by the implementation of the new EU HTA Regulation (HTAR), places an emphasis on engaging all stakeholders, including patients, in collaborative evidence generation. Yet integrating patients’ perspectives into critical processes like PICO scoping remains a challenge, with concerns around subjectivity, representativeness, and methodological robustness. This opinion paper examines the complexities of patient engagement in HTA, highlighting both the opportunities for patients to make meaningful contributions and the barriers that stand in the way. We propose a framework that employes the Delphi panel methodology to (1) foster scientific validity and increase transparency in patient contributions, (2) establish a structured and consistent patient engagement framework, and (3) and understand European patients’ perspectives while promoting collaboration among EU countries. By facilitating iterative feedback and fostering agreement among diverse groups of patients and caregivers contributing with their expertise, consensus methods like Delphi panels can help refine PICO criteria, align diverse stakeholders’ expectations, and increase the relevance of HTA outcomes. A study is now underway to evaluate the feasibility and value of using the modified Delphi panel methodology for patient engagement in PICO scoping. The authors propose that embracing patient engagement through carefully designed consensus frameworks could enhance the legitimacy and completeness of HTA processes, driving more patient-centered decision making across Europe.
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spelling doaj-art-d2ec0a59bbf2463e9c277b03ad3e7b752025-08-20T02:21:07ZengMDPI AGJournal of Market Access & Health Policy2001-66892025-06-011322710.3390/jmahp13020027Enhancing Patient Engagement in HTA: Using Consensus Research to Overcome PICO Scoping Challenges Under the EU HTAREmanuele Arcà0Adele Barlassina1Adaeze Eze2Valentina Strammiello3OPEN Health, Marten Meesweg 107, 3068 AV Rotterdam, The NetherlandsOPEN Health, Marten Meesweg 107, 3068 AV Rotterdam, The NetherlandsOPEN Health, Marten Meesweg 107, 3068 AV Rotterdam, The NetherlandsEuropean Patients’ Forum, Chaussée d’Etterbeek 180, 1040 Brussels, BelgiumThe evolving landscape of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in Europe, shaped by the implementation of the new EU HTA Regulation (HTAR), places an emphasis on engaging all stakeholders, including patients, in collaborative evidence generation. Yet integrating patients’ perspectives into critical processes like PICO scoping remains a challenge, with concerns around subjectivity, representativeness, and methodological robustness. This opinion paper examines the complexities of patient engagement in HTA, highlighting both the opportunities for patients to make meaningful contributions and the barriers that stand in the way. We propose a framework that employes the Delphi panel methodology to (1) foster scientific validity and increase transparency in patient contributions, (2) establish a structured and consistent patient engagement framework, and (3) and understand European patients’ perspectives while promoting collaboration among EU countries. By facilitating iterative feedback and fostering agreement among diverse groups of patients and caregivers contributing with their expertise, consensus methods like Delphi panels can help refine PICO criteria, align diverse stakeholders’ expectations, and increase the relevance of HTA outcomes. A study is now underway to evaluate the feasibility and value of using the modified Delphi panel methodology for patient engagement in PICO scoping. The authors propose that embracing patient engagement through carefully designed consensus frameworks could enhance the legitimacy and completeness of HTA processes, driving more patient-centered decision making across Europe.https://www.mdpi.com/2001-6689/13/2/27patient engagementEU HTA RegulationPICO scopingconsensus researchDelphi panelsHealth Technology Assessment
spellingShingle Emanuele Arcà
Adele Barlassina
Adaeze Eze
Valentina Strammiello
Enhancing Patient Engagement in HTA: Using Consensus Research to Overcome PICO Scoping Challenges Under the EU HTAR
Journal of Market Access & Health Policy
patient engagement
EU HTA Regulation
PICO scoping
consensus research
Delphi panels
Health Technology Assessment
title Enhancing Patient Engagement in HTA: Using Consensus Research to Overcome PICO Scoping Challenges Under the EU HTAR
title_full Enhancing Patient Engagement in HTA: Using Consensus Research to Overcome PICO Scoping Challenges Under the EU HTAR
title_fullStr Enhancing Patient Engagement in HTA: Using Consensus Research to Overcome PICO Scoping Challenges Under the EU HTAR
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing Patient Engagement in HTA: Using Consensus Research to Overcome PICO Scoping Challenges Under the EU HTAR
title_short Enhancing Patient Engagement in HTA: Using Consensus Research to Overcome PICO Scoping Challenges Under the EU HTAR
title_sort enhancing patient engagement in hta using consensus research to overcome pico scoping challenges under the eu htar
topic patient engagement
EU HTA Regulation
PICO scoping
consensus research
Delphi panels
Health Technology Assessment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2001-6689/13/2/27
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AT adelebarlassina enhancingpatientengagementinhtausingconsensusresearchtoovercomepicoscopingchallengesundertheeuhtar
AT adaezeeze enhancingpatientengagementinhtausingconsensusresearchtoovercomepicoscopingchallengesundertheeuhtar
AT valentinastrammiello enhancingpatientengagementinhtausingconsensusresearchtoovercomepicoscopingchallengesundertheeuhtar