HIQA to carry out HTA of smoking interventions
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has commenced a health technology assessment (HTA) of smoking cessation interventions. This follows a request from the Department of Health for HIQA to examine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of a number of different treatments to help people quit smoking. The results of this HTA will inform health policy decisions about potential improvements to the provision of smoking cessation services within Ireland’s public health service.
HIQA’s Director of Health Technology Assessment Dr Máirín Ryan said:“HIQA’s mandate as an independent statutory authority is to drive continuous improvement in Ireland’s health and social care services. HTA is a decision-support tool used to generate structured, evidence-based information on the clinical effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness and budget impact of health technologies. By conducting this HTA, HIQA will be in a position to provide impartial, expert advice on the value (clinical and economic) of a range of smoking cessation therapies to ensure the best outcome for the public and a prudent use of resources.”
The HTA evaluation team will be advised by an expert advisory group (EAG) during the course of this assessment, who will also review the team’s outputs.
Interested parties will be invited to submit feedback via a public consultation on a draft HTA report before it is finalised and submitted as advice to the Minister for Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The Terms of Reference of the HTA are to:
- describe the range of smoking cessation therapies available
- review the effectiveness and safety of the available smoking cessation interventions and their impact on long term quit rates
- describe the epidemiology of smoking and smoking related-illness in Ireland
- compare the cost-effectiveness of interventions that are associated with improved rates of smoking cessation and to estimate the costs associated with these interventions within the public health system in Ireland
- examine any other relevant issues associated with potential changes to the provision of smoking cessation services by the HSE that may affect patients, staff or the organisation of existing services
- advise on the optimal use of smoking cessation interventions by the HSE, based on this assessment.
Marty Whelan, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, HIQA
01 814 7480 / 086 2447 623 mwhelan@hiqa.ie
Ends.
- In 2014, the prevalence of smoking in Ireland was 19.5% having decreased from 21.5% in 2013. Prevalence was higher amongst men than women and higher in lower socioeconomic groups.
- One in every two smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease.
- Smoking is the leading cause of avoidable death in Ireland, with over 5,500 people dying each year from the effects of smoking.
- The costs associated with smoking in Ireland, including healthcare costs in treating tobacco-related diseases plus lost productivity, amount to between €1 billion and €2 billion annually. Recent data shows that over 30,000 smokers are admitted to hospital with a tobacco-related disease every year. Other healthcare costs include outpatient costs, general practitioner (GP) visits, medicines and other supports provided by the HSE.
- There are about one million smokers in Ireland, 80% of whom say they want to quit, with 40% trying to stop smoking every year. Only 2 to 3% successfully quit each year.
- National health policy is to achieve a smoking prevalence less than 5% by 2025 as outlined in Tobacco Free Ireland.