title: Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group: Development of the Assessment of New Radiation Oncology Technology and Treatments (ANROTAT) Framework.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study aim was to develop a generic framework to derive the parameters to populate health-economic models for the rapid evaluation of new techniques and technologies in radiation oncology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A draft framework was developed through horizon scanning for relevant technologies, literature review to identify framework models, and a workshop program with radiation oncology professionals, biostatisticians, health economists and consumers to establish the Framework's structure. It was tested using four clinical protocols, comparing intensity modulated with 3D conformal therapy (post-prostatectomy, anal canal and nasopharynx) and image-guided radiation therapy techniques with off-line review of portal imaging (in the intact prostate).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The draft generic research framework consisted of five sequential stages, each with a number of components, and was assessed as to its suitability for deriving the evidence needed to populate the decision-analytic models required for the health-economic evaluations. A final Framework was established from this experience for use by future researchers to provide evidence of clinical efficacy and cost-utility for other novel techniques. The four clinical treatment sites tested during the project were considered suitable to use in future evaluations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Development of a generic research framework to predict early and long-term clinical outcomes, combined with health-economic data, produced a generally applicable method for the rapid evaluation of new techniques and technologies in radiation oncology. Its application to further health technology assessments in the radiation oncology sector will allow further refinement and support its generalisability.
authors.affiliation: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Gillian M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Duchesne
authors.affiliation: Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Mel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grand
authors.affiliation: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kron
authors.affiliation: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haworth
authors.affiliation: Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.|University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: June
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Corry
authors.affiliation: University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Deidre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Besuijen
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Hannah E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Val
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gebski
authors.affiliation: Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torony
authors.affiliation: Trans Tasman Radiation Oncology Group, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kovacev
authors.affiliation: Health and Training Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Rowena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Burmeister
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D013648:Tasmania
keywords: framework; health technology assessment; health-economic evaluation; radiation oncology techniques; radiation oncology technologies