The case for updating health economic evaluation of digital technologies: in response to the demographic challenges.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this article is to present arguments and examples of practical tools for adjusting economic evaluations and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to ensure that assessments of DHTs reflect current demographic challenges. METHODS: The arguments are based on a narrative review of studies of the effects of DHTs on health care professionals' workload and use of time. RESULTS: Based on the review, three recurring themes were identified: (1) the different definitions of effects on clinician time, (2) the need for quantitative assessment of effects on clinician time, and (3) the different kinds of effects on clinician time. CONCLUSION: On this basis, two suggestions for adjustment of economic evaluations and HTA are presented: by the collection of data and presentation of results on the effects of DHTs on Time Needed to Treat (TNT), and by the use of shadow prices to ensure that the costs of healthcare professionals are correctly reflected in the alternative costs.