Evaluation Methods in Clinical Health Technologies:  A Systematic Review

Niloofar  Mohammadzadeh; Meysam Rahmani  Katigari; Rahil  Hosseini; Shahrbanoo  Pahlevanynejad

doi:10.18502/ijph.v52i5.12708

Niloofar Mohammadzadeh Department of Health Information Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Meysam Rahmani Katigari Department of Health Information Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Rahil Hosseini Department of Health Information Management, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Shahrbanoo Pahlevanynejad Health Information Technology Department, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v52i5.12708

Keywords: Evaluation; Health; Technology; Assessment; Systematic review

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted to classify the types of evaluation methods in clinical health technologies based on a systematic review method.

Methods: An electronic search was conducted in three scientific databases including Scopus, PubMed and ISI. The search strategy was performed in Jul to Nov 2021 and based on the three main concepts of "evaluation", "technology", "health. This search has been restricted to 10 years (2011-2021). Moreover, it only was limited to English and papers published in journals and conferences proceeding.

Results: Overall, 8149 references were identified for title and abstract screening. Full text screening was performed for 2674 articles, with 174 meeting the criteria for study inclusion.

Conclusion: Most of the technologies evaluated in these articles were associated with PC-based systems (N=107), and there have been fewer mobile apps (N=67). Most of used technologies were with goals of treatment (43%, N=74) and education (26%, N=45). Among all the methods, the most and the least used methods were usability (66%, N=115) and qualitative (1%, N=2) method, respectively. The most method for health clinical technologies is usability method especially in telemedicine field.