Florence Piron

Evaluation of patient involvement in a health technology assessment.

OBJECTIVES We sought to evaluate patient involvement (consultation and direct participation) in the assessment of alternative measures to restraint and seclusion among adults in short-term hospital wards (in psychiatry) and long-term care facilities for the elderly. METHODS We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with thirteen stakeholders: caregivers, healthcare managers, patient representatives, health technology assessment (HTA) unit members, researchers, and members of the local HTA scientific committee. Data were collected until saturation. We carried out content analysis of two HTA reports and four other documents that were produced in relation with this HTA. We also used field notes taken during formal meetings and informal discussions with stakeholders. We performed thematic analysis based on a framework for assessing patient involvement in HTA. We then triangulated data. RESULTS For the majority of interviewees, patient consultation enriched the content of the HTA report and its recommendations. This also made it possible to suggest other alternatives that could reduce the use of restraint and seclusion and helped confirm some views and comments from healthcare professionals consulted in this HTA. The direct participation of patient representatives enabled rephrasing of some findings so as to bring the patient perspective to the HTA report. CONCLUSIONS Patient consultation was seen as having directly influenced the content of the HTA report while direct participation made it possible to rephrase some findings. This is one of few studies to assess the impact of patient involvement in HTA and more such studies are needed to identify the best ways to improve the input of such involvement.

Faire Du Libre Accès Un Outil De Justice Cognitive Et D’Empowerment Des Universitaires Des Pays Des Suds

Le phenomene du libre acces ne se reduit pas a la question de l’accessibilite des articles publies dans les revues scientifiques recensees dans the Web of Science. Dans les pays des Suds, il devrait integrer le mandat explicite d’encourager la recherche et la publication par les auteurs locaux afin de lutter contre l’alienation epistemique. A travers plusieurs activites originales de formation, d’ecriture et de publication, le projet SOHA met en œuvre cette conception politique et engagee du libre acces comme outil de justice cognitive et d’empowerment. The phenomenon of open access is not limited to the issue of accessibility of articles published in scientific journals listed in the Web of Science. In the Global South, it should include an explicit mandate to encourage research and publication by local authors to fight against their epistemic alienation. Through several original activities of training, writing and publishing, the SOHA project implements this conception of open access as a tool of cognitive justice and empowerment.