All Resources

Middle ear implants for the treatment of hearing loss : final STE report

Description

Presents a review of the evidence on middle ear implants (MEI) for the treatment of hearing loss. The objectives of the review were to determine the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of... More ≫

Description

Presents a review of the evidence on middle ear implants (MEI) for the treatment of hearing loss. The objectives of the review were to determine the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of MEI in comparison to external hearing aids, boneanchored hearing aids (BAHA), or cochlear implants; to identify particular sub-groups of patients who might benefit most from MEI, and to summarize the current criteria for using MEI versus alternative treatments for hearing loss.

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Photodynamic therapy for skin cancer & pre-cancerous skin conditions : final STE report

Description

Presents a systematic review of the evidence on photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of pre-cancerous skin conditions (i.e. actinic keratosis), and non-melanoma skin cancers. The... More ≫

Description

Presents a systematic review of the evidence on photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of pre-cancerous skin conditions (i.e. actinic keratosis), and non-melanoma skin cancers. The objectives of the review were to determine the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness and budget impact of PDT in comparison to other treatments for these conditions; to identify particular sub-groups of patients who might benefit most from PDT; and to summarize current criteria for the use of PDT and alternative treatments for these skin conditions.

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An assessment of sleep disordered breathing diagnosis using Level I versus Level III sleep studies : final report

Description

This assessment considers the evidence on using Level I (in-laboratory polysomnography) versus Level III (ambulatory, in-home) sleep studies for the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing and... More ≫

Description

This assessment considers the evidence on using Level I (in-laboratory polysomnography) versus Level III (ambulatory, in-home) sleep studies for the diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing and specific conditions that fall within this disorder.

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STE report : transarterial radioembolization for the treatment of hepatic neoplasia : final STE report

Description

The report reviews the use of transarterial radioembolization (TARE) for the treatment of primary and secondary hepatic neoplasia for the purpose of considering its potential as a publically... More ≫

Description

The report reviews the use of transarterial radioembolization (TARE) for the treatment of primary and secondary hepatic neoplasia for the purpose of considering its potential as a publically funded health service in Alberta.

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Vitamin D testing : rapid literature review

Description

The clinical utility of testing individuals deemed at average risk for vitamin D deficiency has received the attention of the medical community in recent years. The objectives of this literature... More ≫

Description

The clinical utility of testing individuals deemed at average risk for vitamin D deficiency has received the attention of the medical community in recent years. The objectives of this literature review were: to outline the specific indications for vitamin D testing as reflected in the literature; to identify the number and type of studies for each indication; to review the abstracts of vitamin D randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses; and to review the Health Technology Assessment reports available.

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Point-of-care testing for oral anticoagulant management with portable prothrombin time systems

Description

Atrial fibrillation, venous thrombosis and thromboembolism are common diseases which require oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT). The current gold-standard method for monitoring the international... More ≫

Description

Atrial fibrillation, venous thrombosis and thromboembolism are common diseases which require oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT). The current gold-standard method for monitoring the international normalized ratio (INR) is laboratory testing of blood obtained by venepuncture. However, patients may find testing to be time consuming and inconvenient. With the development of portable coagulometers it is now possible to measure INR outside the laboratory setting. This review looks at the effectiveness of patient self-management (PSM), patient self-testing (PST) and point-of-care testing (POCT) by health care practitioners using portable coagulometers, compared to conventional laboratory testing.

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Photodynamic therapy for the treatment of Barrett’s esophagus : a systematic review and economic evaluation

Description

Barrett's esophagus is a benign condition, usually caused by long-term gastroesophageal reflux disease. In some individuals the abnormal Barrett's tissue develops precancerous cells. Barrett's... More ≫

Description

Barrett's esophagus is a benign condition, usually caused by long-term gastroesophageal reflux disease. In some individuals the abnormal Barrett's tissue develops precancerous cells. Barrett's esophagus with high grade dysplasia is associated with a higher risk of developing one type of esophageal cancer. Interventions to remove the dysplastic tissue are intended to reduce this risk. Photodynamic therapy is one of several less invasive, endoscopic treatment options for Barrett’s esophagus that offer an alternative to surgical removal of the esophagus. This review assesses the evidence on the safety and effectiveness of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of Barrett's esophagus with high grade dysplasia in comparison to esophagectomy and other endoscopic treatments for this condition. It also examines the social and economic considerations for the provision of PDT in comparison to alternate treatments.

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Artificial disc arthroplasty (ACDA)

Description

Artificial cervical disc arthroplasty (ACDA) is a surgical procedure that may replace cervical fusion in selected patients suffering from cervical degenerative disc disease. The main outcome of... More ≫

Description

Artificial cervical disc arthroplasty (ACDA) is a surgical procedure that may replace cervical fusion in selected patients suffering from cervical degenerative disc disease. The main outcome of ACDA that sets it apart from fusion is the preservation of the spine mobility. The aim of this report is to review the literature for evidence of effectiveness and safety of the cervical artificial disks approved by Health Canada.

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Fetal fibronectin testing for the diagnosis of preterm labour : a review of the economics literature and cost analysis for Alberta

Description

Preterm birth (PTB) is one of the biggest problems in modern obstetrics, as it is responsible for the majority of perinatal mortality and adverse long-term neurological outcomes. For spontaneous... More ≫

Description

Preterm birth (PTB) is one of the biggest problems in modern obstetrics, as it is responsible for the majority of perinatal mortality and adverse long-term neurological outcomes. For spontaneous preterm labour (PTL) without rupture of membranes, the majority of women presenting with symptoms will go on to deliver at term. Thus, the challenge in practise is to correctly identify those women who are in true preterm labour and will deliver preterm. The fetal fibronectin (fFN) test is a diagnostic test that can be used to help diagnose PTL in women. The primary advantage of the test is its simplicity of use and the strong negative predictive value. This potentially gives the ability to more accurately identify those women who are in true preterm labour, and who therefore need to be transferred and treated. The objectives of this report was to review the published literature examining the economic impact of fFN test, and to examine the cost implications of fetal fibronectin testing in...

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Gastric electrical stimulation (EnterraTM therapy system) for the treatment of gastroparesis

Description

Gastroparesis (GP) is a disorder manifested by delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Clinically, GP may be associated with severe nausea, vomiting, and malnutrition.... More ≫

Description

Gastroparesis (GP) is a disorder manifested by delayed gastric emptying in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Clinically, GP may be associated with severe nausea, vomiting, and malnutrition. Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) is considered a treatment option for patients with severe symptoms associated with GP. The Enterra™ Therapy system is a GES system that is implanted subcutaneously in the abdominal wall and provides high-frequency, low-energy stimulation to the muscle wall of the stomach via a pair of electrodes/leads. The aim of this paper is to present the current evidence on the efficacy/effectiveness, safety, and efficiency of GES (Enterra™ Therapy system) used for the treatment of patients with severe GP.

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