title: Supporting decision making in cross-border regions: a health technology assessment tool for hospitals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to develop an health technology assessment (HTA) decision tool to support the decision-making process on health technologies for hospital decision makers in cross-border regions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Several methods were used to collect information necessary to develop the cross-border mini-HTA decision tool. The literature was inventoried on HTA in border regions and local settings and the use of HTA by local decision makers. Semi-structured interviews with hospital decision makers in cross-border regions were also performed. Based on group discussion of the resulting information, it was decided to use the Danish mini-HTA guideline as a starting point for development of the decision tool. After finishing the first version of the decision tool it was tested in two pilot studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some questions in the Danish mini-HTA guideline were not relevant. Other questions needed rephrasing and questions about cross-border situations were added. The pilots showed several missing topics, including legal questions and reimbursement issues. The final decision tool consists of three sections: a general section, a section for hospitals not cooperating cross-border and a section for hospitals that are cooperating with hospitals across a national or regional border.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our literature search, this may be the first cross-border mini-HTA decision tool. The decision tool will be of help for healthcare professionals and decision makers in border settings who would like to use HTA evidence to support their decision-making process.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health and Department of Health Services Research, Maastricht University, Maastricht 6200 MD, Netherlands. sknies@cvz.nl
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knies
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Commers
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Dauben
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Evers
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michelsen
authors.forename: Wija
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oortwijn
authors.forename: Chibuzo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Opara
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brand
mesh_terms: D020811:Biomedical Technology; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical; D003718:Denmark; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D010865:Pilot Projects; D036301:Qualitative Research