Design and validation of a decision support checklist for efficient resource allocation in research projects during proposal preparation.

PURPOSE: This article presents the design and validation of evaluation criteria checklist aimed at facilitating decision-making processes regarding participation in research projects and allocation of resources before the preparation of research proposals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multidisciplinary team developed a comprehensive evaluation focusing on the proposal preparation phase of research projects. A Delphi survey method was used to establish a connection between the relevance of the project and the possible success of research proposals. Assessment criteria were agreed upon, each assigned specific weights. The results of the survey were applied to a database of 62 proposals for which our research group sought funding during 2020-2021. The method was validated using the funding body's outcomes (approval or rejection) of the submitted proposals as the ground truth per project type (national, European and regional). RESULTS: The results of the survey generated a checklist of 8 criteria (excellence, impact, and efficiency aspects) that effectively assess the possibility of success of research proposals during the preparatory phase. For national projects, the tool validation demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 76.19%; European projects exhibited a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 53.84%; and regional projects showed a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 30%. CONCLUSIONS: By establishing an agreed set of evaluation criteria, the developed comprehensive index enables a more precise decision support tool for the participation in research proposals and the allocation of necessary resources. This control system saves valuable time and effort for research groups while enhancing the overall efficiency of available resources.

Medical imaging clinical trials unit: A professional need.

PURPOSE: To design and describe a management and control tool and the human resources needed to efficiently manage the imaging process within clinical trials for a better quality of care for the patient. METHODS: A unit was created to efficiently organise the participation of our Medical Imaging Department in clinical trials. This entity was defined and monitored using a customized, flexible and modular software package that provides the necessary information to execute and monitor requests (appointments, protocols, reports, complaints, billing). Various indicators of activity and professional satisfaction were parameterised. RESULTS: From 2016 to 2020, 367 trials were participated and monitored, 50% of all the hospital clinical trials. The budget of the Medical Imaging Department grew by 47% in this period. The coordination with other departments and principal investigators improved, as shown by surveys (62% fluid and 38% very fluid), with a high perception of collaboration (86%). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of a Medical Imaging Clinical Trials Unit involve identifying the tasks, personnel, organisational needs, workflow, monitoring and invoicing. The creation of this Unit has improved the control and traceability of clinical trials within the Department.

Relación costo-efectividad de la vacuna contra Haemophilus influenzae tipo b en niños menores de dos años de edad en Colombia / The cost-effectiveness of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine for children under 2 years of age in Colombia

OBJETIVOS: Las vacunas conjugadas contra Haemophilus influenzae tipo b (Hib) son la herramienta más importante para prevenir la mayoría de las enfermedades invasoras producidas por dicho patógeno, pero debido a su costo, aún no se han introducido mundialmente de manera masiva. En el presente estudio se determinó la relación costo-efectividad de una vacuna contra Hib para prevenir la neumonía y la meningitis bacterianas en niños menores de 2 años en Colombia. MÉTODOS: Se estimaron los costos directos e indirectos de la neumonía y la meningitis hospitalaria y siguiendo las recomendaciones de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), la relación costo-efectividad de los programas de vacunación contra Hib. Se estimaron también las razones de costos por caso evitado de enfermedad invasora por Hib y el costo por año de vida salvado en dos situaciones hipotéticas: con vacunación contra Hib (cobertura vacunal: 90 por ciento) y sin vacunación. RESULTADOS: El costo medio del tratamiento hospitalario de un caso de neumonía fue de 611,5 dólares estadounidenses (US$) (intervalo de confianza del 95 por ciento [IC95 por ciento]: 532,2 - 690,8), el costo medio del tratamiento hospitalario de un caso de meningitis fue de US$ 848,9 (IC95 por ciento: 716,8 - 981,0) y el costo por caso evitado de enfermedad invasora por Hib, de US$ 316,7 (IC95 por ciento: 294,2 - 339,2). La relación costo-efectividad en la hipótesis con vacunación fue de 2,38, frente a 3,81 en la hipótesis sin vacunación. CONCLUSION: La aplicación de un programa adecuado de vacunación contra Hib en Colombia puede prevenir cerca de 25 000 casos de enfermedad invasora por año, lo que representa un ahorro de por lo menos US$ 15 millones anuales. Además, puede evitar cerca de 700 defunciones y salvar anualmente 44 054 años de vida.

OBJECTIVE: Conjugate vaccines are the best public health tools available for preventing most invasive diseases caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), but the high cost of the vaccines has so far kept them from being introduced worldwide. The objective of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of introducing Hib conjugate vaccines for the prevention of meningitis and pneumonia among children under 2 years of age in Colombia. METHODS: We estimated the direct and indirect costs of managing in-hospital pneumonia and meningitis cases. In addition, following the recommendations of the World Health Organization, we assessed the cost-effectiveness of Hib vaccination programs. We also estimated the costs for preventing Hib cases, and the cost per year of life saved in two hypothetical situations: (1) with vaccination against Hib (with 90 percent coverage) and (2) without vaccination. RESULTS: The average in-hospital treatment costs were US$ 611.50 (95 percent confidence interval (95 percent CI) = US$ 532.2 to US$ 690.8) per case of pneumonia and US$ 848.9 (95 percent CI = US$ 716.8 to US$ 981.0) per case of meningitis. The average cost per Hib case prevented was US$ 316.7 (95 percent CI = US$ 294.2 to US$ 339.2). In terms of cost-effectiveness, the cost would be US$ 2.38 per year of life saved for vaccination, versus US$ 3.81 per year of life saved without vaccination. CONCLUSION: Having an adequate Hib vaccination program in Colombia could prevent around 25 000 cases of invasive disease per year, representing a cost savings of at least US$ 15 million annually. Furthermore, the program could prevent some 700 deaths per year and save 44 054 years of life per year.

Tendências do sistema de saúde brasileiro: estudo Delphi / Trens of the brazilian health system: Delphi study

Identifica as principais tendências do sistema de saúde brasileiro nesta primeira década do século XXI, o estudo está centrado em questões relativas à: valores sociais sobre saúde; organização e estrutura; aspectos econômicos; mercado e regulação; recursos humanos; ciências e tecnologia em saúde e perfil epidemiológico (RBM)