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HTAi 2015 - Social Network Analysis of HTA Collaborations: the case of REBRATS (Tazio Vanni)
1. Social Network Analysis of HTA Collaborations:
the case of REBRATS
Tazio Vanni
General Coordinator of Health Technology Assessment
Department of Science and Technology
Secretariat of Science, Technology and Strategic Inputs
Brazilian Ministry of Health
2. Research team
• Luciana Leão
• Rodrigo Costa
• Flávia Elias
• Juliana Girardi
• Lucas Felipe
• Oney Araújo
• Elenilda Martins
3. Introduction
• Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is becoming
increasingly multidisciplinary.
• Policy-makers and researchers are relying more on
multi-institutional networks to develop strong,
intellectually diverse teams that can answer complex
research questions.
• National governments have promoted HTA networks in
order:
– to develop useful HTA studies
– to support capacity building among health care workers
and policy-makers
– to foster sustainable health systems
4. Saúde e CT&I: Inovação para o acesso
Social and Economic
Development
Health System Science and
Technology
System
5. Objective: To integrate health researchers and decision-
makers in the promotion, development and diffusion of
health technology assessment to support a sustainable
Brazilian National Health System.
Working groups:
1. Research Prioritization and Promotion;
2. Methodological Development and Evaluation;
3. Professional Training and Continuous Education;
4. Information and Communication Management;
5. Technological Horizon Scanning;
6. Health Services Research.
Members: Currently 81 institutions, including research
centres, hospitals, universities, federal, regional and
municipal health agencies.
Coordination: Joint Committee lead by
the Department of Science and
Technology, Ministry of Health
Investment: ~US$ 10 millions
Studies: 435 studies
6. Introduction
• Social network analysis (SNA) can be used to
evaluate collaborations between institutions and
groups.
• SNA has the potential:
– to identify hubs and authorities
– to improve information diffusion and consensus
building
– to monitor and evaluate integration among
institutions
– to inform expansion and restructuring plans
7. Objective
• No peer-reviewed publications investigating
networks in HTA could be found in Medline
and Embase.
• The overall objective of this study was to
evaluate patterns of scientific collaboration in
HTA networks, using REBRATS as a case study.
8. Methods
• REBRATS relies on a virtual repository
(SISREBRATS), which is the largest repository
of HTA studies in Portuguese.
• From the 396 studies included in SISREBRATS
from 11/2009 to 09/2014, we extracted data
for authors’ names, institutional affiliation and
location (state in Brazil).
9. Methods
• We developed a programme in C++ to
structure the data extracted in mixing
matrices.
• Gephi open-source network analysis software
for visualization and exploration of networks
and complex systems.
• Network layout was defined using the
Fruchterman-Reingold and Force Atlas 2
algorithms.
10. SNA metrics
• Nodes metrics included centrality and
betweenness.
• Network statistics included density, connected
components, diameter, average distance
between nodes and clustering coefficient.
11. Methods
• Individuals were classified according to time
since graduation, gender and education.
• Institutions were classified according to
REBRATS membership, the region they were
based and type of institution.
20. Discussion
• We have shown that SNA is instrumental to
monitor and evaluate, as well as to inform the
expansion and restructuring plans for HTA
networks, and possibily other research networks.
• There are different dimensions of collaborations
that should be further investigated.
• The creation, evolution and integration should be
further explored.
21. Discussion
• More comprehensive datasets with other
variables that can explain the structure and
performance of these networks.
• Combination of datasets and methods should be
employed to further our understanding of these
networks.
• Development of impact assessment tools for
research networks.
• Define guidelines for the creation and
management of research networks.
22. Discussion
• There are still many questions for which the
HTA community has not provided answers.
• The increase in life expectancy and the
epidemiological transition coupled with the
growth of the knowledge economy are
increasing the preassure on the HTA
community to develop new assessment tools.
• To met these challenges we have to consider
what are the optimal research ecosystems.