Support in the medical equipment incorporation decision: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy adjunct for diabetic foot ulcers therapy

Abstract

This paper presents a study to assist of a Decision Support Systems and Clinical Engineering Health Technology Management. The methodology is based on methodological guideline for the evaluation of medical equipment addressing its main domains (Clinical, Admissibility, Technical, Operational and Economic) in order to verify the incorporation of Hyperbaric Chambers in comparison to the outsourcing service for the injuries treatment diabetes carriers in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The HBOT application is still very controversial, often generating doubts and making it difficult to make decisions about its incorporation for the public health services. As a result, the Systematic Review, Randomized Controlled Trials and clinical reports were selected in the clinical domain and the operational and technical domain, it is performed a comparative of equipment with its technological resources and service, seeking to analyze parameters that influence in its performance. In the economic domain, through the total cost of ownership, it was estimated it’s direct and indirect costs related to the equipment’s acquisition and inherent to the life cycle sustainability. HTA for medical equipment present several barriers due to the lack of evidence and quality information, it is expected that this work can generate scientific evidences of knowledge and instruments to enable new research involving hyperbaric chambers, as well as contribute to decision-making or other concomitant programs, due to the application of resources in a planned and adequate decision.