Interviewee, Health Technology Assessment for Varicose Vein Treatment

If you have ever considered treatment for your varicose veins, what factored into your decision-making? The Ministry of Health is conducting a review of the various technological treatment options for this condition and patient perspectives would be greatly appreciated.

Open to: Patient partners from across the province

Lead Organization or Department

BC Ministry of Health & the University of Calgary Health Technology Assessment Unit

Aim

A Health Technology Review (HTR) is a joint BC Ministry of Health and Health Authority process used to provide evidence-informed recommendations about how new or existing health technologies should be publicly provided in the province. The BC Ministry of Health has a contract with the University of Calgary’s Health Technology Assessment Unit to do several HTRs each year for BC. Patient partner feedback is always sought to ensure that patient and family perspectives are integrated into the HTA recommendations, and inform the research and development of patient- and family-centred policy options for consideration by government regarding the public funding of technologies. For this request, the U of C unit is conducting an HTR on three treatments for symptomatic varicose veins (EVLT, Venaseal and RFA) and is seeking to obtain the perspectives of patients on key questions to help inform our research and development of policy options. Patient partners are invited to participate in a 30—45 min telephone interview. We may also invite them to participate in a policy roundtable discussion. This is a 1.5—2-hour meeting to discuss policy options related to these treatments for varicose veins.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of consult on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will listen to and acknowledge your ideas and concerns, and provide feedback on how your input affected the decision.

Eligibility

Open to volunteers from across the province who are:

• Living with varicose veins and familiar with EVLT, Venaseal or RFA treatments. We wish to hear from those who have proceeded with treatment, and those who have decided against it.
• Comfortable with speaking about their experiences on the phone.

We are interested in speaking with volunteers who may have had to travel some distance to obtain this kind of treatment.  

Logistics

Number of vacancies: 2-10 Date & Time:  1-to-1 phone interviews will be scheduled between July 30 and August 15 at a time convenient for the patient volunteers. Commitment: one-time only

Reimbursement

A toll-free phone number will be provided for the teleconference.  No additional expenses are expected to be incurred by the patient.

Background

The Health Technology Review (HTR) is a joint BC Ministry of Health and Health Authority process used to provide evidence-informed recommendations about which new non-drug health technologies should be publicly provided in the province. Additional information on the Health Technology Review process is available online at www.health.gov.bc.ca/htr. The University of Calgary Health Technology Assessment Unit is responsible for conducting assessments and evaluations of new and existing health technologies, usually on behalf of Alberta Health Services. What is Endovascular Laser Therapy (EVLT), Venaseal or Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)? Both EVLT and RFA are treatments where heat is used to block the veins. Venaseal is a treatment where medical glue is used to seal a vein. With all three treatments, the treated vein disappears over time. Confidentiality The phone interview session will be recorded, with the permission of the patient partner. The information incorporated into the HTR report will be anonymized and written down in a summary fashion with no personally identifiable information included. Any quotes used to illustrate key points will not be identifiable. Once the report has been completed the recorded information, including any personal information collected, will be destroyed. Patients can choose whether they wish to be acknowledged by name at the front of the report, for their contribution, or anonymously.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Kathryn Proudfoot

Engagement Leader, Patient & Public Engagement | Provincial

604.668.8246

kproudfoot@bcpsqc.ca