A training package of document search in HTA

The University Hospital of Udine (AOUUD) has developed a training package for a variety of professionals interested in document search in HTA. The package is divided into a basic version for lectures to medium and large-sized groups and into an advanced version for immersion training to small groups. The basic version consists of 4 hours training and provides an illustration of national and international HTA sites, the presentation of the AOUUD search engine called "Health Technology Assessment Engine (HTAE)” and the use of the NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information) system for the storage of specific filters. The advanced version is five days long and includes: - The introduction of HTA and how to conduct literature search and criteria for resource assessment (day 1) - International Institutional sites with reference to the tools related to drugs search, the HTA search engine made by the Unit of Health Technology Assessment (UVTS) based on Google charateristics, the definition of the format to be used for the preparation of the final paper (day 2) - The literature search in PubMed (day 3) - The EBM databases and tools (day 4) - The portal of the Library of Medicine and the drafting of the final report (day 5) The course is adjusted according to the expertise and the type of professionals involved. The basic version was used at 10 training programs, including two Masters, to about 270 recipients and was the subject of 4 thesis. CME credits were awarded and a number of trained professionals are utilizing HTAE. The advanced course, conducted as a pilot project, has involved 5 professionals who have produced papers regarding specific topics. The two training packages have proven to be a helpful operative instrument that can be easely personalized.