Patients’ perspectives can be integrated in health technology assessments: An exploratory analysis of CADTH common drug review

Background Since 2010, Canadian patient groups have contributed to the CADTH Common Drug Review (CDR). CADTH conducts health technology assessments of new drugs to support publicly funded drug plans’ reimbursement decisions. We explored whether, and how, patient insights were integrated into assessment reports and Recommendations by the CADTH Canadian Drug Expert Committee (CDEC). Methods We descriptively analyzed 30 consecutive assessments. One researcher identified a set of issues, insights, and desired treatment outcomes provided by patient groups for each included drug assessment. We tracked the presence of each identified patient insight in the relevant assessment protocol, in clinical trials as reported in the assessment, and in the CDEC Recommendations. Additionally, patient insights were categorized by topic and grouped into a three-tier framework to explore the observed juxtaposition between immediate treatment outcomes as seen in clinical trials and the insights from patients living with a chronic condition. Results In 30 drug assessments, 119 patient insights were identified. Of these insights, 89 were included in assessment protocols; 61 in reported clinical trial data; and 67 insights were reflected upon within the CDEC Recommendations. Patient insights within the first framework tier (health status achieved) were frequently included in all aspects of CDR assessments. Within the second tier (progress of recovery), although two-thirds of patient insights were included in protocols, only one-third was reflected in reported trial data or in CDEC Recommendations. Insights within the third tier, which address the long-term consequences of illness and treatment, were even less frequently addressed in all aspects of CDR assessments. Conclusions Patients’ perspectives need not be “considered” in isolation. Patient insights are used by CADTH reviewers to frame an assessment and used by CDEC to interpret the evidence. As health technology assessments should address the indirect and unintended consequences of a technology, as well as its direct and intended effects, drug assessments should consider the progress of recovery and sustainability of health, in addition to survival and immediate health achieved. © 2016 The Author(s).