title: The Role of decision-analytic modelling in German health technology assessments.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Decision-analytic modelling (DAM) has become a widespread method in health technology assessments (HTA), but the extent to which modelling is used differs among international HTA institutions. In Germany, the use of DAM is optional within HTAs of the German Institute of Medical Documentation and Information (DIMDI). Our study examines the use of DAM in DIMDI HTA reports and its effect on the quality of information provided for health policies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of all DIMDI HTA reports (from 1998 to September 2012) incorporating an economic assessment was performed. All included reports were divided into two groups: HTAs with DAM and HTAs without DAM. In both groups, reports were categorized according to the quality of information provided for healthcare decision making.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the sample of 107 DIMDI HTA reports, 17 (15.9%) used DAM for economic assessment. In the group without DAM, conclusions were limited by the quality of economic information in 51.1% of the reports, whereas we did not find limited conclusions in the group with DAM. Furthermore, 24 reports without DAM (26.7%) stated that using DAM would likely improve the quality of information of the economic assessment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of DAM techniques can improve the quality of HTAs in Germany. When, after a systematic review of existing literature within a HTA, it is clear that DAM is likely to positively affect the quality of the economic assessment DAM should be used.
authors: Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH), Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Kuhlmann
authors: Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH), Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Treskova
authors: Xcenda GmbH- Health Economic Research & Consulting, Hannover, Germany.
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Braun
authors: Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH), Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors: J-Matthias
authors: JM
authors: Graf von der Schulenburg
keywords: Cost-effectiveness; Cost-utility; Decision analysis; Health economic evaluation; Health economic modelling; Health technology assessment