Health Technology Assessment
UndergraduateUAD-PUB3547OUA2025
Course information for 2025 intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 18 May 2025
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 26 May 2025
- Price from
- $2,000
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Health Technology Assessment
About this subject
On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
- Describe and critically appraise the conduct of health technology assessment (HTA), in particular the use of systematic literature review and economic modelling, to inform the development of health policy
- Understand the policy framework for HTA in Australia and internationally
- Undertake basic systematic searching for evidence on a health technology
- Critically appraise the quality of evidence supporting a health technology
- Recognise the range of approaches used in HTA to conduct an economic evaluation
- Recognise the role of ethical analysis and public and patient engagement in HTA
- Understand the complex issues associated with evaluating diagnostic tests in an HTA
- Interpret a meta-analysis and apply meta-analytic statistical techniques.
- What is Health Technology Assessment (HTA)? How is HTA done around the world?
- The policy context for HTA in Australia
- HTA Methods: (1) translating the policy question and study selection
- HTA Methods: (2) the search for evidence
- HTA Methods: (3) data extraction, (4) critical appraisal of primary and secondary research
- HTA Methods: (5) Evidence synthesis - narrative synthesis
- HTA Methods: (6) Evidence synthesis - meta-analysis, assessing heterogeneity
- HTA of medical tests and investigative procedures
- HTA Methods: (7) Economic evaluation – the basics
- HTA Methods: (8) Economic evaluation - interpretation, uncertainty and critical appraisal
- Ethical considerations in HTA
- Involving the community in HTA decision-making
This course takes a broad view of the impact of health technologies on the health of the population & individual. Health technologies can include medical procedures, medical devices, diagnostic & investigative technologies, pharmaceuticals & public health interventions. In this course emphasis is placed on the methods used to assess these health technologies in order to inform government policy, clinical & public health practice. Methods include the systematic review of literature to assess the safety & effectiveness of a technology, meta-analysis,as well as economic evaluation to determine whether a technology is cost-effective. Attention is also given to the diffusion of technological innovations within their social, cultural & ethical context; addressing particular challenges with the assessment of medical tests; to horizon scanning for new & emerging technologies; & to investment in, & disinvestment from, health technologies. The course has a strong practical focus & is taught by practitioners in the field.
- Assessment 1: Quiz: Introduction to Health Technology Assessment (15%)
- Assessment 2: Practical: Literature Search (20%)
- Assessment 3: Critical Appraisal (25%)
- Assessment 4: Integrated Hospital-Based Health Technology Assessment (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
The University of Adelaide has a habit of breaking new ground. It was Australia’s first university to welcome female students. The first to offer science and business degrees. Its alumni include Australia’s first female prime minister; the first Australian to walk in space; 2021 Young Australian of the Year; and 2020 Australian of the Year. Adelaide’s OUA degrees will give you deep discipline knowledge, transferable, future-ready skills, and the capability to change the world for the better. With Adelaide, you can make history.
Learn more about Adelaide University.
Explore Adelaide University courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 8
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 7
Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- UAD-HSM-DEG-2025 - Bachelor of Health Service Management
Additional requirements
- Equipment requirements - Headphones or speakers (required to listen to lectures and other media). Headset, including microphone (highly recommended). Webcam (may be required for participation in virtual classrooms and/or presentations).
- Software requirements - It is essential for students to have reliable internet access in order to participate in and complete your units. MyUni is the University of Adelaide's online learning environment. MyUni provides access to various features including announcements, course materials, discussion boards and assessments.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Health Service Management
UndergraduateUAD-HSM-DEG