EUnetHTA Adaptation Glossary (beta)

What we understand by ‘applicability’ is the application/use of the results from clinical trials (done on restricted, specially selected populations) to other groups/individual people for the use in one’s own medical practice (in other words, “usefulness of these results in own clinical practice”). A randomised trial only provides direct evidence of causality within that specific trial. As individual characteristics will affect the outcome for this person, it takes an additional logical step to apply this result to a specific individual.

The idea behind the term “applicability“ is related to the general idea of adaptation because the application of foreign HTA reports is only possible if an adaptation is possible and worth the effort.

Application as a Task

The Norwegian Knowledge Centre does not currently have a structured approach to assessing the applicability of external HTA reports or reviews, although issues tied to applicability and transferability are dealt with frequently. In practice, our approach when evaluating these documents resembles processes described by other institutions, including the New Zealand Guideline Group (NZGG) [1].

Applicability of different standards or evaluations might be a problem in certain countries. Different countries have to find a criterion or a factor to apply assessments from other countries as it can not be done 1:1, especially not HTA reports related to economic or epidemiologic aspects. Applicability depends on the nature of certain HTA study. Some studies (RCT) can be transferred directly from country to country, other like economic evaluations or epidemiologic studies are not cross country applicable.

What we understand by ‘applicability’ is the application/use of the results from clinical trials (done on restricted, specially selected populations) to other groups/individual people for the use in one’s own medical practice (in other words, “usefulness of these results in own clinical practice”). A randomised trial only provides direct evidence of causality within that specific trial. As individual characteristics will affect the outcome for this person, it takes an additional logical step to apply this result to a specific individual.

Applicability, in research terminology, is used when studies conducted in one setting are assessed to determine whether their results/conclusions can be used or implemented in other settings. Examples: e.g. "We appraise foreign results against local conditions and evaluate their applicability in Finland"

Another example of the use of term applicability comes from the implementation stage of a research project. Researchers should ensure that their results are communicated in such a way that they are applicable in daily practice.

Issue

Applicability is closely related to generalisability, which is a prerequisite for adapting a HTA report to a local setting. As health care systems and patients are not the same in different countries, the approach or studies do not always apply to the local context Therefore, the applicability of the report must be reviewed.

Process

Applicability should be taken into account before adaptation is undertaken. One important task should be giving recommendations to do a first judgement about applicability of a HTA report considering epidemiological, biological, organizational and socio-economic issues. Applicability is not the same that generalisability. Generalisability is a characteristic of a report whereas applicability is a judgment made taking in account the particular characteristics of a country.

The degree to which the results of an observation, study or review hold true in other settings.

See also Generalisability and transferability and Relevance and Reliability