Checklist to guide equity considerations in HTA
A practical checklist to help health technology assessment (HTA) teams consider fairness and equity at every stage of their work. It ensures that assessments do not unintentionally worsen health inequalities.
At a glance
Use when
Conducting a health technology assessment where equity impacts are a concern,Designing HTA processes to be more inclusive,Supporting decision-making that aims to reduce health disparities
Avoid when
Equity considerations are explicitly outside the scope of the HTA,No stakeholder or policy interest in equity implications,Resource constraints prevent meaningful engagement with equity analysis
Inputs
HTA process stages (scoping, evaluation, recommendations, knowledge translation, reassessment); equity-relevant data; stakeholder perspectives
Outputs
Guidance on incorporating equity considerations at each HTA phase; structured reflection points; improved equity-sensitive HTA conclusions
How it works
The Equity Checklist for HTA (ECHTA) is structured around five HTA phases—Scoping, Evaluation, Recommendations and Conclusions, Knowledge Translation and Implementation, and Reassessment. It builds on Culyer and Bombard’s equity framework and was refined through literature review, expert consultation, stakeholder input, conference feedback, and piloting across full HTA processes. ECHTA includes actionable items with explanatory details and examples to support systematic equity integration.
- HTA domains
- Patient and Social Aspects
- Categories
- Appraisal
- Assumptions
- Equity is a relevant dimension in HTA; decision-makers aim to reduce health disparities; contextual adaptation of the checklist is necessary
- Strengths
- Structured by HTA workflow for practical use; includes examples and explanations; developed through iterative expert and stakeholder engagement; pilot-tested across full HTA cycle
- Limitations
- May require contextual adaptation for different healthcare systems; does not provide quantitative methods for equity measurement; limited evidence on long-term impact
- Also known as
- ECHTA, Equity Checklist for HTA
Questions this answers
- › How can equity be integrated into the scoping phase of an HTA?
- › What equity-related factors should be considered during evidence evaluation?
- › How can recommendations avoid contributing to health inequalities?
- › What role does knowledge translation play in promoting equitable implementation?
- › How can equity be reassessed over time?
- › What practical steps support equity analysis across all HTA phases?
References & sources
Similar by meaning
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