Guiding principles for good practices set up a benchmark for HB-HTA because they represent the ideal performance of HB-HTA units; nevertheless, when performing HTA at hospital level, context also matters; therefore, they should be adapted to ensure their applicability in the local context.

Objectives: This study was designed to understand consumer interest in a mobile application designed to allow individuals to view their personal health record on a mobile device, and to share their health records with someone else if they choose. As a secondary objective, this study evaluated the likelihood of consumers to use the device based on the varying risk of a leak of their identifiable information (risk tolerance). MethOds: A representative (U.S.) sample of 1,000 adults completed an online survey about their interest in an EHR mobile application. Interest in the application was elucidating using a 7-point Likert scale and a standard gamble (SG) exercise. Results: Prior to any indication of a potential privacy risk, 31% of consumers indicate they would be very likely to download an EHR mobile application (rated 6 or 7 on 7-point Likert scale; 4.0 mean). Nearly half (44%) of those who do not expect to use the app indicate they have privacy concerns. Based on the SG, only 50% report they would download the mobile application if there was a 95% chance their data was completely secure. Expected use of the application declines rapidly; 39% would use it if there was a 90% chance their data was completely secure and 31% would use it if there was an 85% chance their data was completely secure. Only 3% are still interested in the application with only a 5% chance their data was completely secure. cOnclusiOns: There is a sizeable market for EHR mobile applications. Up to half of consumers report interest in using an EHR mobile application; and yet, there are important data concerns. Particularly given largescale data breaches of large organizations, it will be critical for developers to quell fears of potential users of a data leak.

Assessments of new health technologies in Europe are often made at the hospital level. However, the guidelines for health technology assessment (HTA), e.g. the EUnetHTA Core Model, are produced by national HTA organizations and focus on decision-making at the national level. This paper describes the results of an interview study with European hospital managers about their need for information when deciding about investments in new treatments. The study is part of the AdHopHTA project. Face-to-face, structured interviews were conducted with 53 hospital managers from nine European countries. The hospital managers identified the clinical, economic, safety and organizational aspects of new treatments as being the most relevant for decision-making. With regard to economic aspects, the hospital managers typically had a narrower focus on budget impact and reimbursement. In addition to the information included in traditional HTAs, hospital managers sometimes needed information on the political and strategic aspects of new treatments, in particular the relationship between the treatment and the strategic goals of the hospital. If further studies are able to verify our results, guidelines for hospital-based HTA should be altered to reflect the information needs of hospital managers when deciding about investments in new treatments.

There is a good opportunity for Turkey to use the skills in HTA currently being developed through activities in Europe and the Americas to assist in the development of a much more cost-effective and transparent healthcare system in Turkey.

This study aims to determine Vitamin-D level in patients with primary dysmenorrhea and investigate the effect of Vitamin-D replacement on symptoms. About 100 patients in the 18-30 age group followed-up with primary dysmenorrhea diagnosis were included in this observational study. The pain severity was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS). 25-hydroxy vitamin D(25(OH)D) levels of the patients were measured and the replacement therapy was applied according to measurement results. The patients were followed for three months in total. At the end of the three-month period, the 25(OH)D level was measured and the VAS score was assessed once more after the therapy. 25(OH)D level was insufficient in 23.0%, deficient in 45.0%, and severely deficient in 32.0% of the patients. It was found that the VAS score increased as the 25(OH)D level decreased (r = -0.320; p = .002). A significant reduction was observed in VAS scores after Vitamin-D treatment in all three groups; the amount of reduction in VAS score was determined to be higher in the patients with severely deficient levels of 25(OH)D, compared to the patients with deficient or insufficient levels (p < .001). A significant and negative correlation was found between Vitamin-D and symptoms associated with dysmenorrhea in our study. The Vitamin-D replacement therapy led to a significant decrease in symptoms.