The objective was to conduct a benchmarking study of available online health technology assessment (HTA) training tools for patients, specifically those used by HTA agencies and major European and international patient and consumer groups (PCGs). We compared existing online training tools on this topic in order to develop in-house HTA training tools for French patients and consumers.

A literature search and a scoping review of websites was conducted by including the websites of HTA agencies, European and international PCGs, and other bodies. This was supplemented with videoconference interviews with selected HTA agencies and patient groups. The inclusion criterion was the existence of content describing HTA and patient and public involvement (PPI) in HTA that PCGs could use (regardless of its format).

Eighty-two online training tools were selected according to the specified inclusion criterion. Sixteen international HTA bodies, nine European and international PCGs, and 13 other bodies provided online HTA training tools available for patients and consumers. No journal articles matching the inclusion criterion were found. Two broad categories of content were identified: the first relating to HTA and the second relating to PPI in HTA. Moreover, the formats of these tools ranged from interactive to non-interactive, with varying accessibility (freely available or with a paywall) and assessment methods.

These results should be considered together with budget requirements, project time constraints, human resources, and the preferences of HAS and patients when developing HTA training tools to improve the participation of patients and consumers in the HTA process at HAS.