Publications

Objectives

Currently there is no framework for those involved in identification, evaluation and prioritisation of new
diagnostic technologies. Therefore we aimed to develop prioritisation criteria for the assessment of
new diagnostic technologies, by gaining international consensus on not only which criteria should be
used, but also their relative importance.

Method

A two-round Delphi process was used to generate consensus amongst an international panel of
twenty-six experts on priority criteria for diagnostic health technology assessment. Participants
represented a range of health care and related professions, including government, industry, health
services and academia.

Results

Based on the responses to the first questionnaire 18 criteria were placed into three categories: high,
intermediate and moderate priority. For 16 of the 18 criteria, agreement with the categorisation of the
criteria into the high, intermediate and moderate categories was high at ≥70% (10 had agreement
≥80%). A further questionnaire and panel discussion reduced the criteria to 16 and two categories;
seven were classified to be of high priority and nine intermediate.
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Conclusions

This study proposes an objective structure of prioritisation criteria when assessing new diagnostic
technologies, which has emerged from the expert consensus process. These criteria are under
consideration by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence for the new ‘Evaluation Pathway
Programme for Medical Technologies’, to which some diagnostic technologies will be subject.