This module discusses the two most common types of data used in medical technology evaluations: clinical trial data and health insurance claims data. The discussion of clinical trial data covers the basic elements of trial design that help ensure the results will be reliable inputs to technology evaluations. The discussion of claims data covers what types of information is available in claims and how it differs from clinical data. It also covers potential sources of data. The module concludes with a few lessons that discuss general considerations and precautions when using data to ensure the validity of a technology evaluation.

In this module we will discuss a variety of types of medical technology evaluation approaches and the types of assessments. We will go into detail about the pros and cons of each type of assessment as a way to illustrate situations where one approach may be better than another. Finally, we will also cover the details of the two fundamental features of any evaluation: measuring costs and benefits.

Module 4 brings everything together from the first three modules. We will go into more detail about some of the more common quantitative methodologies you may encounter with an evaluation. We will talk about incorporating the effects of uncertainty and time into a medical technology evaluation model as well as the type of models that allow for the dynamic nature of patient responses to medical technology.