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Lamberti O, Terris-Prestholt F, Bustinduy AL, Bozzani F. A health decision analytical model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of female genital schistosomiasis screening strategies: The female genital schistosomiasis SCREEN framework. Trop Med Int Health 2024; 29:859-868. [PMID: 39095942 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.14040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Female genital schistosomiasis is a chronic gynaecological disease caused by the waterborne parasite Schistosoma (S.) haematobium. It affects an estimated 30-56 million girls and women globally, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa where it is endemic, and negatively impacts their sexual and reproductive life. Recent studies found evidence of an association between female genital schistosomiasis and increased prevalence of HIV and cervical precancer lesions. Despite the large population at risk, the burden and impact of female genital schistosomiasis are scarcely documented, resulting in neglect and insufficient resource allocation. There is currently no standardised method for individual or population-based female genital schistosomiasis screening and diagnosis which hinders accurate assessment of disease burden in endemic countries. To optimise financial allocations for female genital schistosomiasis screening, it is necessary to explore the cost-effectiveness of different strategies by combining cost and impact estimates. Yet, no economic evaluation has explored the value for money of alternative screening methods. This paper describes a novel application of health decision analytical modelling to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different female genital schistosomiasis screening strategies across endemic settings. The model combines a decision tree for female genital schistosomiasis screening strategies, and a Markov model for the natural history of cervical cancer to estimate the cost per disability-adjusted life-years averted for different screening strategies, stratified by HIV status. It is a starting point for discussion and for supporting priority setting in a data-sparse environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olimpia Lamberti
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Fern Terris-Prestholt
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Amaya L Bustinduy
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Fiammetta Bozzani
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Standaert B, Vandenberghe D, Connolly MP, Hellings J. The Knowledge and Application of Economics in Healthcare in a High-Income Country Today: The Case of Belgium. JOURNAL OF MARKET ACCESS & HEALTH POLICY 2024; 12:264-279. [PMID: 39315121 PMCID: PMC11417786 DOI: 10.3390/jmahp12030021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Healthcare is a huge business sector in many countries, focusing on the social function of delivering quality health when people develop illness. The system is essentially financed by public funds based on the solidarity principle. With a large financial outlay, the sector must use economic evaluation methods to achieve better efficiency. The objective of our study was to evaluate and to understand how health economics is used today, taking Belgium as an example of a high-income country. The evaluation started with a historical view of healthcare development and ended with potential projections for its future. A literature review focused on country-specific evaluation reports to identify the health economic methods used, with a search for potential gaps. The first results indicated that Belgium in 2021 devoted 11% of its GDP, 17% of its total tax revenue, and 30% of the national Social Security Fund to health-related activities, totalizing EUR 55.5 billion spending. The main health economic method used was a cost-effectiveness analysis linked to budget impact, assigning reimbursable monetary values to new products becoming available. However, these evaluation methods only impacted at most 20% of the money circulating in healthcare. The remaining 80% was subject to financial regulations (70%) and budgeting (10%), which could use many other techniques of an economic analysis. The evaluation indicated two potentially important changes in health economic use in Belgium. One was an increased focus on budgeting with plans, time frames, and quantified treatment objectives on specific disease problems. Economic models with simulations are very supportive in those settings. The other was the application of constrained optimization methods, which may become the new standard of practice when switching from fee-for-service to pay-per-performance as promoted by value-based healthcare and value-based health management. This economic refocusing to a more constrained approach may help to keep the healthcare system sustainable and affordable in the face of the many future challenges including ageing, climate change, migration, pandemics, logistical limitations, and financial instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baudouin Standaert
- Department of Care & Ethics, Faculty of Medicine & Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; (D.V.); (J.H.)
| | - Désirée Vandenberghe
- Department of Care & Ethics, Faculty of Medicine & Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; (D.V.); (J.H.)
| | - Mark P Connolly
- Global Market Access Solutions (GMAS), Charlotte, NC 28202, USA;
- Department of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Public University of Groningen, 9700 AB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johan Hellings
- Department of Care & Ethics, Faculty of Medicine & Life Sciences, University of Hasselt, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium; (D.V.); (J.H.)
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Saygın Avşar T, Yang X, Lorgelly P. Equity in national healthcare economic evaluation guidelines: Essential or extraneous? Soc Sci Med 2024; 357:117220. [PMID: 39153234 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The focus on health maximisation in a healthcare economic evaluation (HEE) - that is health gains are of equal value regardless of the recipient- has significant implications as health systems attempt to address persistent and growing health inequities. This study aimed to systematically compare and contrast the equity principles of different health technology assessment (HTA) agencies and how equity is addressed in HEE guidelines. METHODS HTA agencies were identified through the ISPOR, GEAR, iDSI, HTAi, INAHTA, HTAsiaLink, and RedETSA websites in June 2021 and updated in August 2023. Agencies websites were then searched to retrieve HEE guidelines. The guidelines were grouped into two categories: well-established and newly-developed agency guidelines, based on whether or not they published their first guidelines before 2009. Data extracted summarised the methodological details in the reference cases, including specifics on how equity featured and in what role. In those agencies where equity did not feature explicitly in the HEE guidelines, an additional search of the agency website was undertaken to understand if equity featured in those agencies' decision-making frameworks. RESULTS The study included 46 guidelines from 51 countries. Only 30% of the guidelines were explicit about the equity assumptions. Health equity (using a broad definition) was mentioned in 29 guidelines and 14 included a specific definition while only seven recommended specific methods to incorporate inequalities. Addressing equity concerns was usually suggested as an additional analyses rather than a key part of the assessment. It was unclear how equity was incorporated into decision-making processes. In addition, equity was mentioned in other guidance - such as decision-making frameworks - provided by five agencies that did not mention it in the HEE guidelines, and 7 of 14 topic selection criteria that were identified. CONCLUSION Equity is given less attention than efficiency in HEE guidelines. This indicates that HTA agencies while subscribing to an extra-welfarist approach have a narrow evaluative space - focusing on maximising health and not considering the opportunity cost of the equity constraint. The omission of equity and the lack of systematic approaches in guidelines poses a threat to the international endeavours to reduce inequities. It is timely for HTA agencies to reconsider their positions on equity explicitly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuba Saygın Avşar
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, UK; University College London, UK.
| | | | - Paula Lorgelly
- University College London, UK; University of Auckland, New Zealand
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Riley AG, Voehler D, Mitrovich R, Carias C, Ollendorf DA, Nelson KL, Synnott PG, Eiden AL. Documenting the Full Value of Vaccination: A Systematic Review of Value Frameworks. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2024; 27:1289-1299. [PMID: 38729562 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2024.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Economic evaluations of vaccination may not fully account for nonhealth patient impacts on families, communities, and society (ie, broader value elements). Omission of broader value elements may reflect a lack of established measurement methodology, lack of agreement over which value elements to include in economic evaluations, and a lack of consensus on whether the value elements included should vary by vaccination type or condition. We conducted a systematic review of value frameworks to identify broader value elements and measurement guidance that may be useful for capturing the full value of vaccination. METHODS We searched Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and the gray literature to identify value frameworks for all health interventions, and we extracted information on each framework's context, value elements, and any available guidance on how these elements should be measured. We used descriptive statistics to analyze and compare the prevalence of broader value elements in vaccination value frameworks and other healthcare-related value frameworks. RESULTS Our search identified 62 value frameworks that met inclusion criteria, 9 of which were vaccination specific. Although vaccination frameworks included several broader value elements, such as reduced transmissibility and public health benefits, the elements were represented inconsistently across the frameworks. Vaccination frameworks omitted several value elements included in nonvaccination-specific frameworks, including dosing and administration complexity and affordability. In addition, guidance for measuring broader value elements was underdeveloped. CONCLUSIONS Future efforts should further evaluate inclusion of broader value elements in economic evaluations of vaccination and develop standards for their subsequent measurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail G Riley
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Dominic Voehler
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Daniel A Ollendorf
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Patricia G Synnott
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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Muir JM, Radhakrishnan A, Ozer Stillman I, Sarri G. Health Equity Considerations in Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: Insights from an Umbrella Review. CLINICOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2024; 16:581-596. [PMID: 39184340 PMCID: PMC11344546 DOI: 10.2147/ceor.s471827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA) are important in healthcare decision-making and resource allocation; however, expanding the scope of CEAs beyond the traditional clinicoeconomic concepts to also include value elements such as health equity has attracted much interest in recent years. This umbrella review aimed to synthesize evidence on how equity concepts have been considered in modified types of CEAs. Publicly available articles in MEDLINE were searched on January 25, 2024, to identify systematic reviews (SLRs) published in English since 2013 that incorporate health equity considerations in CEAs. Title/abstract, full-text article screening and data extraction were conducted by a single reviewer and validated by a second reviewer. Results were qualitatively synthesized to identify common themes. Eight SLRs were included. Distributional CEAs (DCEA), equity-based weighting, extended CEA (ECEA), mathematical programming and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) were the most discussed approaches. A lack of consensus on the best approach for incorporating health equity into CEAs was highlighted, as these approaches are not currently consistently used in decision-making. Important limitations included scarcity of robust data to inform health equity indices, bias associated with commonly used health outcome metrics and the challenge of accounting for additional contextual factors such as fairness and opportunity costs. Proposals to expand CEAs to address equity issues come with challenges due to data unavailability, methods complexity, and decision-makers unfamiliarity with these approaches. Our review indicates that extended and distributional CEAs can support decision-making by capturing the impact of inequity on the clinical and cost-effectiveness assessment of treatments, although future modeling should account for additional contextual factors such as fairness and opportunity costs. Recommendations for actions moving forward include standardization of data collection for outcomes related to equity and familiarity with methodologies to account for the complexities of integrating health equity considerations in CEAs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ipek Ozer Stillman
- Value, Evidence & Health Economics, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Lexington, MA, USA
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Espinosa O, Rodríguez-Lesmes P, Romano G, Orozco E, Basto S, Ávila D, Mesa L, Enríquez H. Use of Cost-Effectiveness Thresholds in Healthcare Public Policy: Progress and Challenges. APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY 2024:10.1007/s40258-024-00900-5. [PMID: 38995492 DOI: 10.1007/s40258-024-00900-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
The article offers a comparative analysis of the influence of cost-effectiveness thresholds in the decision-making processes in financing policies, coverage, and price regulation of health technologies in nine countries. We investigated whether countries used cost-effectiveness thresholds for public health policy decision making and found that few countries have adopted the cost-effectiveness threshold as an official criterion for financing, reimbursement, or pricing. However, in countries where it is applied, such as Thailand, the results have been very favorable in terms of minimizing health technology prices and ensuring the financial sustainability of the health system. Although the cost-effectiveness threshold has opportunities for improvement, particularly in certain institutional contexts and with adequate participation of the different strategic actors in the formulation of public policy, its potential use and added value are significant in various aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Espinosa
- Economic Models and Quantitative Methods Research Group, Centro de Investigaciones para el Desarrollo, Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Directorate of Analytical, Economic and Actuarial Studies in Health, Instituto de Evaluación Tecnológica en Salud (IETS), Bogotá, DC, Colombia
| | | | - Giancarlo Romano
- Directorate of Analytical, Economic and Actuarial Studies in Health, Instituto de Evaluación Tecnológica en Salud (IETS), Bogotá, DC, Colombia
| | - Esteban Orozco
- Directorate of Analytical, Economic and Actuarial Studies in Health, Instituto de Evaluación Tecnológica en Salud (IETS), Bogotá, DC, Colombia
- School of Economics, Universidad de Antioquia, Bogotá, DC, Colombia
| | - Sergio Basto
- Directorate of Analytical, Economic and Actuarial Studies in Health, Instituto de Evaluación Tecnológica en Salud (IETS), Bogotá, DC, Colombia
| | - Diego Ávila
- Economic Models and Quantitative Methods Research Group, Centro de Investigaciones para el Desarrollo, Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Directorate of Analytical, Economic and Actuarial Studies in Health, Instituto de Evaluación Tecnológica en Salud (IETS), Bogotá, DC, Colombia
| | - Lorena Mesa
- Directorate of Qualitative Methods and Social Research, Instituto de Evaluación Tecnológica en Salud (IETS), Duitama, Colombia
| | - Hernán Enríquez
- School of Economics, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, DC, Colombia
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Salikhanov I, Yuliya S, Aceti M, Schweighoffer R, Kunirova G, Khashagulgova F, Crape BL, Katapodi MC. Challenges of palliative care identified by stakeholders in resource-limited settings: A multi-regional study in Kazakhstan. J Cancer Policy 2024; 40:100474. [PMID: 38513969 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpo.2024.100474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In Kazakhstan, a country of 19 million residents, more than 100,000 patients need palliative care. Since at least one family member is usually involved in the care of a terminal patient, more than 200,000 people would benefit from high-quality palliative care services in the country. However, with only 45 physicians and 101 nurses attending to 1925 palliative beds, Kazakhstan seeks to develop palliative services that meet the national needs in resource-limited settings and international standards. The objectives of this study are to explore the challenges faced by stakeholders involved in palliative care in Kazakhstan and to subsequently provide recommendations that can guide policymakers towards further developing palliative care services in the country. METHODS This cross-sectional descriptive study collected narrative data with in-depth interviews from n= 29 palliative stakeholders (family caregivers n= 12, healthcare professionals =12, administrators n= 5) across five regions of Kazakhstan. Verbatim transcripts of interviews were analyzed using content analysis to identify needs and challenges of stakeholders involved in palliative care. RESULTS Our analysis identified seven main challenges of palliative care stakeholders: high out-of-pocket expenditures; lack of mobile palliative care services for home-based care; severe shortages of opioids to prevent pain suffering; poor formal palliative care education; absence of practical skills training for family caregivers; lack of awareness about palliative care in the society, and lack of state support. CONCLUSION Implementation of national palliative care strategies and policies require a large-scale coordinated involvement of all stakeholders. Our recommendations are based on the idea that coordinated, targeted, and tailored stakeholder engagement is preferred to a one-size-fits-all strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Islam Salikhanov
- University of Basel, Department of Clinical Research, Davidsbodenstrasse 28, Basel 4056, Switzerland.
| | - Savinova Yuliya
- Kostanay City Oncological Multidisciplinary Hospital, Kostanay, Kazakhstan
| | - Monica Aceti
- University of Basel, Department of Clinical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Reka Schweighoffer
- University of Basel, Department of Clinical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gulnara Kunirova
- President of the Kazakhstan Association of Palliative Care, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | | | | | - Maria C Katapodi
- University of Basel, Department of Clinical Research, Switzerland
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Thiboonboon K, Lourenco RDA, Cronin P, Khoo T, Goodall S. Economic Evaluations of Obesity-Targeted Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Taxes-A Review to Identify Methodological Issues. Health Policy 2024; 144:105076. [PMID: 38692186 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Economic evaluations of public health interventions like sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes face difficulties similar to those previously identified in other public health areas. This stems from challenges in accurately attributing effects, capturing outcomes and costs beyond health, and integrating equity effects. This review examines how these challenges were addressed in economic evaluations of SSB taxes. METHODS A systematic review was conducted to identify economic evaluations of SSB taxes focused on addressing obesity in adults, published up to February 2021. The methodological challenges examined include measuring effects, valuing outcomes, assessing costs, and incorporating equity. RESULTS Fourteen economic evaluations of SSB taxes were identified. Across these evaluations, estimating SSB tax effects was uncertain due to a reliance on indirect evidence that was less robust than evidence from randomised controlled trials. Health outcomes, like quality-adjusted life years, along with a healthcare system perspective for costs, dominated the evaluations of SSB taxes, with a limited focus on broader non-health consequences. Equity analyses were common but employed significantly different approaches and exhibited varying degrees of quality. CONCLUSION Addressing the methodological challenges remains an issue for economic evaluations of public health interventions like SSB taxes, suggesting the need for increased attention on those issues in future studies. Dedicated methodological guidelines, in particular addressing the measurement of effect and incorporation of equity impacts, are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kittiphong Thiboonboon
- Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, Level 5, Building 20 100 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008, Australia.
| | - Richard De Abreu Lourenco
- Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, Level 5, Building 20 100 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008, Australia
| | - Paula Cronin
- Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, Level 5, Building 20 100 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008, Australia
| | - Terence Khoo
- Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, Level 5, Building 20 100 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008, Australia
| | - Stephen Goodall
- Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia, Level 5, Building 20 100 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008, Australia
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Jit M, Cook AR. Informing Public Health Policies with Models for Disease Burden, Impact Evaluation, and Economic Evaluation. Annu Rev Public Health 2024; 45:133-150. [PMID: 37871140 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-060222-025149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Conducting real-world public health experiments is often costly, time-consuming, and ethically challenging, so mathematical models have a long-standing history of being used to inform policy. Applications include estimating disease burden, performing economic evaluation of interventions, and responding to health emergencies such as pandemics. Models played a pivotal role during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing early detection of SARS-CoV-2's pandemic potential and informing subsequent public health measures. While models offer valuable policy insights, they often carry limitations, especially when they depend on assumptions and incomplete data. Striking a balance between accuracy and timely decision-making in rapidly evolving situations such as disease outbreaks is challenging. Modelers need to explore the extent to which their models deviate from representing the real world. The uncertainties inherent in models must be effectively communicated to policy makers and the public. As the field becomes increasingly influential, it needs to develop reporting standards that enable rigorous external scrutiny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Jit
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom;
| | - Alex R Cook
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- National University Health System, Singapore
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Liang Y, Lin Y, Jiao B. Health Interventions May Have Divergent Impacts on Health and Economic Equity: A Case Study of the Community-Based Hypertension Improvement Project in Ghana. APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY 2024; 22:353-362. [PMID: 38267804 DOI: 10.1007/s40258-024-00871-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Improving health and economic equity are key objectives in priority setting, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. This study aims to assess the distributional impacts of the Community-based Hypertension Improvement Project (ComHIP) on health and economic outcomes across wealth quintiles in Ghana. METHODS We developed a decision analytical model to simulate a 30 million cohort of Ghanaians aged 15-49 years. The study specified health outcomes as the prevention of stroke cases and averting deaths among those with hypertension. Furthermore, we explored economic impacts, including savings in out-of-pocket costs for stroke patients and government spending. Financial risk protection against catastrophic and impoverishing health expenditures was also examined. We assessed these outcomes across wealth quintiles, and the corresponding concentration indexes (CIXs) were determined. RESULTS It was estimated that ComHIP could prevent 1450 stroke cases and 564 related deaths annually. Health benefits were observed to be more significant among the wealthier quintiles (CIX 0.217), mainly attributed to a higher occurrence of hypertension within these groups. ComHIP was also projected to result in an annual saving of USD 49,885 in individuals' out-of-pocket costs (CIX 0.262) and USD 37,578 in government spending (CIX 0.146). These savings correspond to the prevention of 335 catastrophic health expenditure cases (CIX - 0.239) and 11 impoverishing health expenditure cases (CIX - 0.600). CONCLUSIONS While ComHIP provides greater health benefits to wealthier groups, it offers substantial financial risk protection for the less wealthy. This study highlights the importance of considering equity in both health and financial risk when making priority-setting decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhi Liang
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 90 Smith St, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Yuqian Lin
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 90 Smith St, Boston, MA, 02120, USA
| | - Boshen Jiao
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 90 Smith St, Boston, MA, 02120, USA.
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White RG, Menzies NA, Portnoy A, Clark RA, Toscano CM, Weller C, Tufet Bayona M, Silal SP, Karron RA, Lee JS, Excler JL, Lauer JA, Giersing B, Lambach P, Hutubessy R, Jit M. The Full Value of Vaccine Assessments Concept-Current Opportunities and Recommendations. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:435. [PMID: 38675817 PMCID: PMC11053419 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12040435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
For vaccine development and adoption decisions, the 'Full Value of Vaccine Assessment' (FVVA) framework has been proposed by the WHO to expand the range of evidence available to support the prioritization of candidate vaccines for investment and eventual uptake by low- and middle-income countries. Recent applications of the FVVA framework have already shown benefits. Building on the success of these applications, we see important new opportunities to maximize the future utility of FVVAs to country and global stakeholders and provide a proof-of-concept for analyses in other areas of disease control and prevention. These opportunities include the following: (1) FVVA producers should aim to create evidence that explicitly meets the needs of multiple key FVVA consumers, (2) the WHO and other key stakeholders should develop standardized methodologies for FVVAs, as well as guidance for how different stakeholders can explicitly reflect their values within the FVVA framework, and (3) the WHO should convene experts to further develop and prioritize the research agenda for outcomes and benefits relevant to the FVVA and elucidate methodological approaches and opportunities for standardization not only for less well-established benefits, but also for any relevant research gaps. We encourage FVVA stakeholders to engage with these opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard G. White
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK; (R.A.C.); (M.J.)
| | - Nicolas A. Menzies
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Center for Health Decision Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Allison Portnoy
- Center for Health Decision Science, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Rebecca A. Clark
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK; (R.A.C.); (M.J.)
| | - Cristiana M. Toscano
- Department of Collective Health, Institute for Tropical Medicine and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil;
| | | | | | - Sheetal Prakash Silal
- Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7701, South Africa;
- Centre for Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Ruth A. Karron
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Jung-Seok Lee
- Policy and Economic Research Department, International Vaccine Institute, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea;
| | | | - Jeremy A. Lauer
- Department of Management Science, Strathclyde Business School, Strathclyde University, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK;
| | - Birgitte Giersing
- Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Department, WHO, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (B.G.); (P.L.); (R.H.)
| | - Philipp Lambach
- Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Department, WHO, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (B.G.); (P.L.); (R.H.)
| | - Raymond Hutubessy
- Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Department, WHO, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; (B.G.); (P.L.); (R.H.)
| | - Mark Jit
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK; (R.A.C.); (M.J.)
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Demir E, Yakutcan U, Page S. Using simulation modelling to transform hospital planning and management to address health inequalities. Soc Sci Med 2024; 347:116786. [PMID: 38493680 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Health inequalities are a perennial concern for policymakers and in service delivery to ensure fair and equitable access and outcomes. As health inequalities are socially influenced by employment, income, and education, this impacts healthcare services among socio-economically disadvantaged groups, making it a pertinent area for investigation in seeking to promote equitable access. Researchers widely acknowledge that health equity is a multi-faceted problem requiring approaches to understand the complexity and interconnections in hospital planning as a precursor to healthcare delivery. Operations research offers the potential to develop analytical models and frameworks to aid in complex decision-making that has both a strategic and operational function in problem-solving. This paper develops a simulation-based modelling framework (SimulEQUITY) to model the complexities in addressing health inequalities at a hospital level. The model encompasses an entire hospital operation (including inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department services) using the discrete-event simulation method to simulate the behaviour and performance of real-world systems, processes, or organisations. The paper makes a sustained contribution to knowledge by challenging the existing population-level planning approaches in healthcare that often overlook individual patient needs, especially within disadvantaged groups. By holistically modelling an entire hospital, socio-economic variations in patients' pathways are developed by incorporating individual patient attributes and variables. This innovative framework facilitates the exploration of diverse scenarios, from processes to resources and environmental factors, enabling key decision-makers to evaluate what intervention strategies to adopt as well as the likely scenarios for future patterns of healthcare inequality. The paper outlines the decision-support toolkit developed and the practical application of the SimulEQUITY model through to implementation within a hospital in the UK. This moves hospital management and strategic planning to a more dynamic position where a software-based approach, incorporating complexity, is implicit in the modelling rather than simplification and generalisation arising from the use of population-based models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eren Demir
- Hertfordshire Business School, University of Hertfordshire, AL10 9AB, Hatfield, United Kingdom.
| | - Usame Yakutcan
- Hertfordshire Business School, University of Hertfordshire, AL10 9AB, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Page
- Hertfordshire Business School, University of Hertfordshire, AL10 9AB, Hatfield, United Kingdom
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Fraser HL, Feldhaus I, Edoka IP, Wade AN, Kohli-Lynch CN, Hofman K, Verguet S. Extended cost-effectiveness analysis of interventions to improve uptake of diabetes services in South Africa. Health Policy Plan 2024; 39:253-267. [PMID: 38252592 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czae001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The rising prevalence of diabetes in South Africa (SA), coupled with significant levels of unmet need for diagnosis and treatment, results in high rates of diabetes-associated complications. Income status is a determinant of utilization of diagnosis and treatment services, with transport costs and loss of wages being key barriers to care. A conditional cash transfer (CCT) programme, targeted to compensate for such costs, may improve service utilization. We applied extended cost-effectiveness analysis (ECEA) methods and used a Markov model to compare the costs, health benefits and financial risk protection (FRP) attributes of a CCT programme. A population was simulated, drawing from SA-specific data, which transitioned yearly through various health states, based on specific probabilities obtained from local data, over a 45-year time horizon. Costs and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were applied to each health state. Three CCT programme strategies were simulated and compared to a 'no programme' scenario: (1) covering diagnosis services only; (2) covering treatment services only; (3) covering both diagnosis and treatment services. Cost-effectiveness was reported as incremental net monetary benefit (INMB) using a cost-effectiveness threshold of USD3015 per DALY for SA, while FRP outcomes were reported as catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) cases averted. Distributions of the outcomes were reported by income quintile and sex. Covering both diagnosis and treatment services for the bottom two quintiles resulted in the greatest INMB (USD22 per person) and the greatest CHE cases averted. There were greater FRP benefits for women compared to men. A CCT programme covering diabetes diagnosis and treatment services was found to be cost-effective, when provided to the poorest 40% of the SA population. ECEA provides a useful platform for including equity considerations to inform priority setting and implementation policies in SA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Fraser
- Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Clarice Pears Building (Level 3), 90 Byres Road, United Kingdom
- SA MRC/Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science-PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St Andrews Road, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Isabelle Feldhaus
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ijeoma P Edoka
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 32 Princess of Wales Terrace, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St Andrews Road, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Alisha N Wade
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St Andrews Road, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Ciaran N Kohli-Lynch
- SA MRC/Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science-PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St Andrews Road, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 680 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
| | - Karen Hofman
- SA MRC/Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science-PRICELESS SA, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 27 St Andrews Road, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
| | - Stéphane Verguet
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Zhang M, Yang Y, Bao Y, Kimber M, Levine M, Xie F. Scoring the Value Assessment Framework for China: A Factorial Survey. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2024; 27:330-339. [PMID: 38135215 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to develop the scoring functions for the recently developed value assessment framework (VAF) for China, which comprises 12 attributes. METHODS We implemented a factorial survey among Chinese healthcare stakeholders from July to September 2022. A total of 240 hypothetical drug value profiles described by the VAF were grouped into 60 blocks and randomly assigned to respondents. Each respondent was assigned with 1 block, each presented in 3 disease scenarios of different levels of severity. For each profile, respondents were asked to assess the drug's value on a scale from 0 (lowest) to 10 (highest) and make 1 of the 3 insurance recommendations: cover, to be negotiated for coverage, or reject. Linear and logistic mixed-effects models were used to develop scoring functions for aggregating the value attributes. RESULTS A total of 365 respondents participated in the survey. 3968 responses from 331 respondents were included in the analysis. Most of the included respondents were under 45 (n = 256, 77.3%), females (n = 208, 62.8%), living in urban areas (n = 296, 89.4%), and with a bachelor's degree or higher (n = 303, 91.5%). Health benefits and safety carried more weights than other attributes in the scoring functions across disease scenarios. The value and probability of entering negotiation or receiving insurance coverage for the attribute profiles for severe/critical disease were higher than for mild/moderate disease. CONCLUSIONS The scoring functions of the VAF can be used to assess the value of a drug and its probability of entering negotiation or receiving insurance coverage in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Zhang
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Yi Yang
- School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Bao
- Institute of Clinical Research and Evidence Based Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Melissa Kimber
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Offord Centre for Child Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Mitchell Levine
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Feng Xie
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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Kwon J, Squires H, Young T. Incorporating frailty to address the key challenges to geriatric economic evaluation. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:155. [PMID: 38355461 PMCID: PMC10868084 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-04752-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The multidimensional and dynamically complex process of ageing presents key challenges to economic evaluation of geriatric interventions, including: (1) accounting for indirect, long-term effects of a geriatric shock such as a fall; (2) incorporating a wide range of societal, non-health outcomes such as informal caregiver burden; and (3) accounting for heterogeneity within the demographic group. Measures of frailty aim to capture the multidimensional and syndromic nature of geriatric health. Using a case study of community-based falls prevention, this article explores how incorporating a multivariate frailty index in a decision model can help address the above key challenges. METHODS A conceptual structure of the relationship between geriatric shocks and frailty was developed. This included three key associations involving frailty: (A) the shock-frailty feedback loop; (B) the secondary effects of shock via frailty; and (C) association between frailty and intervention access. A case study of economic modelling of community-based falls prevention for older persons aged 60 + was used to show how parameterising these associations contributed to addressing the above three challenges. The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) was the main data source for parameterisation. A new 52-item multivariate frailty index was generated from ELSA. The main statistical methods were multivariate logistic and linear regressions. Estimated regression coefficients were inputted into a discrete individual simulation with annual cycles to calculate the continuous variable value or probability of binary event given individuals' characteristics. RESULTS All three conceptual associations, in their parameterised forms, contributed to addressing challenge (1). Specifically, by worsening the frailty progression, falls incidence in the model increased the risk of falling in subsequent cycles and indirectly impacted the trajectories and levels of EQ-5D-3 L, mortality risk, and comorbidity care costs. Intervention access was positively associated with frailty such that the greater access to falls prevention by frailer individuals dampened the falls-frailty feedback loop. Association (B) concerning the secondary effects of falls via frailty was central to addressing challenge (2). Using this association, the model was able to estimate how falls prevention generated via its impact on frailty paid and unpaid productivity gains, out-of-pocket care expenditure reduction, and informal caregiving cost reduction. For challenge (3), frailty captured the variations within demographic groups of key model outcomes including EQ-5D-3 L, QALY, and all-cause care costs. Frailty itself was shown to have a social gradient such that it mediated socially inequitable distributions of frailty-associated outcomes. CONCLUSION The frailty-based conceptual structure and parameterisation methods significantly improved upon the methods previously employed by falls prevention models to address the key challenges for geriatric economic evaluation. The conceptual structure is applicable to other geriatric and non-geriatric intervention areas and should inform the data selection and statistical methods to parameterise structurally valid economic models of geriatric interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Kwon
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, OX2 6GG, Oxford, England.
| | - Hazel Squires
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court (ScHARR), 30 Regent Street, S1 4DA, Sheffield, England
| | - Tracey Young
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court (ScHARR), 30 Regent Street, S1 4DA, Sheffield, England
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潘 杰, 王 秀, 王 朝, 徐 东, 邹 锟, 李 芹. [Evolution and Application of Disease Control Priorities]. SICHUAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF SICHUAN UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCE EDITION 2024; 55:95-100. [PMID: 38322541 PMCID: PMC10839486 DOI: 10.12182/20240160603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Disease control priority (DCP) is an important public health intervention strategy. Diseases that should be prioritized for prevention and control are first screened with a series of criteria, including the severity of the disease burden, the effectiveness of disease control technologies, the prevention and control capacity of the existing health system, etc. Then, the prevention and control technologies for these diseases undergo qualitative evaluation (eg, face-to-face interviews, expert consultation, workshops, etc) and quantitative evaluation (eg, cost-benefit analysis, multi-criteria decision analysis, etc). Finally, the public health initiatives that should be prioritized are identified. From the conception of the idea, to the formal proposition of the concept, to guidance for practice, DCP has gone through more than 70 years of development. Through DCP, significant contributions has been made to improving the efficiency of health care service systems and promoting the health of populations in developing countries. Herein, we systematically reviewed the background, development history, realization method, and practical applications of DCP, focusing on exploring the application potential of DCP in health governance and providing technical support and decision-making reference for the comprehensive promotion of the Healthy China Initiative.
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Affiliation(s)
- 杰 潘
- 四川大学华西公共卫生学院/四川大学华西第四医院 HEOA Group (成都 610041)HEOA Group, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- 四川大学中国南亚研究中心 (成都 610064)China Center for South Asian Studies, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - 秀丽 王
- 四川大学华西公共卫生学院/四川大学华西第四医院 HEOA Group (成都 610041)HEOA Group, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- 四川大学中国南亚研究中心 (成都 610064)China Center for South Asian Studies, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - 朝辉 王
- 四川大学华西公共卫生学院/四川大学华西第四医院 HEOA Group (成都 610041)HEOA Group, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- 四川大学中国南亚研究中心 (成都 610064)China Center for South Asian Studies, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - 东 徐
- 四川大学华西公共卫生学院/四川大学华西第四医院 HEOA Group (成都 610041)HEOA Group, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- 四川大学中国南亚研究中心 (成都 610064)China Center for South Asian Studies, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - 锟 邹
- 四川大学华西公共卫生学院/四川大学华西第四医院 HEOA Group (成都 610041)HEOA Group, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- 四川大学中国南亚研究中心 (成都 610064)China Center for South Asian Studies, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - 芹 李
- 四川大学华西公共卫生学院/四川大学华西第四医院 HEOA Group (成都 610041)HEOA Group, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- 四川大学中国南亚研究中心 (成都 610064)China Center for South Asian Studies, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
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Hattab Z, Doherty E, Ryan AM, O’Neill S. Heterogeneity within the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment: An application of causal forests. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297205. [PMID: 38236917 PMCID: PMC10796043 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Existing evidence regarding the effects of Medicaid expansion, largely focused on aggregate effects, suggests health insurance impacts some health, healthcare utilization, and financial hardship outcomes. In this study we apply causal forest and instrumental forest methods to data from the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment (OHIE), to explore heterogeneity in the uptake of health insurance, and in the effects of (a) lottery selection and (b) health insurance on a range of health-related outcomes. The findings of this study suggest that the impact of winning the lottery on the health insurance uptake varies among different subgroups based on age and race. In addition, the results generally coincide with findings in the literature regarding the overall effects: lottery selection (and insurance) reduces out-of-pocket spending, increases physician visits and drug prescriptions, with little (short-term) impact on the number of emergency department visits and hospital admissions. Despite this, we detect quite weak evidence of heterogeneity in the effects of the lottery and of health insurance across the outcomes considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaid Hattab
- J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- Department of Mathematics, An-Najah National University, Nablus, State of Palestine
| | - Edel Doherty
- J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Andrew M. Ryan
- Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Stephen O’Neill
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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18
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Simoens S, Tubeuf S, Dauby N, Ethgen O, Marbaix S, Willaert M, Luyten J. The broader benefits of vaccines: methodologies for inclusion in economic evaluation. Expert Rev Vaccines 2024; 23:779-788. [PMID: 39136368 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2024.2387599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As the societal value of vaccines is increasingly recognized, there is a need to examine methodological approaches that could be used to integrate these various benefits in the economic evaluation of a vaccine. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A literature review and two expert panel meetings explored methodologies to value herd immunity, health spillover effects (beyond herd immunity), impact on antimicrobial resistance, productivity, and equity implications of vaccines. RESULTS The consideration of broader benefits of vaccines in economic evaluation is complicated and necessitates technical expertise. Whereas methodologies to account for herd immunity and work productivity are relatively well established, approaches to investigate equity implications are developing and less frequently applied. Modeling the potential impact on antimicrobial resistance not only depends on the multi-faceted causal relationship between vaccination and resistance but also on data availability. CONCLUSIONS Different methods are available to value the broad impact of vaccines, and it is important that analysts are aware of their strengths and limitations and justify their choice of method. In the future, we expect that an increasing number of economic evaluations will consider the broader benefits of vaccines as part of their base-case analysis or in sensitivity analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Simoens
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sandy Tubeuf
- Institute of Health and Society (IRSS), Université Catholique de Louvain (UClouvain), Brussels, Belgium
- Institute of Economic and Social Research (IRES), Université Catholique de Louvain (UClouvain), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Dauby
- Department of Infectious Diseases, CHU Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
- School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier Ethgen
- Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
- SERFAN Innovation, Namur, Belgium
| | - Sophie Marbaix
- Research Institute for Health Sciences and Technology, University of Mons-UMONS, Mons, Belgium
| | | | - Jeroen Luyten
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Garrison LP. Multicriteria Decision Analysis and Value Assessment Frameworks: Where Do We Stand? What Next? VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2024; 27:3-6. [PMID: 37918665 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2023.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Louis P Garrison
- Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program, University of Washington School of Pharmacy, Seattle, WA, USA.
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20
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Ramponi F, Ssennyonjo A, Banda S, Aliti T, Nkhoma D, Kaonga O, Griffin S, Revill P, Kataika E, Nabyonga-Orem J. Demands for Intersectoral Actions to Meet Health Challenges in East and Southern Africa and Methods for Their Evaluation. Value Health Reg Issues 2024; 39:74-83. [PMID: 38007854 DOI: 10.1016/j.vhri.2023.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Focusing on the East, Central, and Southern African region, this study examines both regional and country-level initiatives aimed at promoting multisectoral collaboration to improve population health and the methods for their economic evaluation. METHODS We explored the interventions that necessitate cooperation among policymakers from diverse sectors and the mechanisms that facilitate effective collaboration and coordination across these sectors. To gain insights into the demand for multisectoral collaboration in the East, Central, and Southern African region, we presented 3 country briefs, highlighting policy areas and initiatives that have successfully incorporated health-promoting actions from outside the health sector in Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Malawi. Additionally, we showcased initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Health in each country to foster coordination with national and international stakeholders, along with existing coordination mechanisms established for intersectoral collaboration. Drawing on these examples, we identified the primary challenges in the economic evaluation of multisectoral programs aimed at improving health in the region. RESULTS We illustrated how decision making in reality differs from the traditional single-sector and single-decision-maker perspective commonly used in cost-effectiveness analyses. To ensure economic evaluations can inform decision making in diverse settings and facilitate regional collaboration, we highlighted 3 fundamental principles: identifying policy objectives, defining the perspective of the analysis, and considering opportunity costs. We emphasized the importance of adopting a flexible and context-specific approach to economic evaluation. CONCLUSIONS Through this work, we contribute to bridging the gap between theory and practice in the context of intersectoral activities aimed at improving health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Ramponi
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, York, England, UK; ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Aloysius Ssennyonjo
- School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Dominic Nkhoma
- Health Economics & Policy Unit (HEPU), Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Oliver Kaonga
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, York, England, UK
| | - Susan Griffin
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, York, England, UK
| | - Paul Revill
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, York, England, UK
| | - Edward Kataika
- East, Central, and Southern Africa Health Community, Arusha, Tanzania
| | - Juliet Nabyonga-Orem
- WHO Regional Office for Africa, Inter Country Support team for Eastern and Southern Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe; Centre for Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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21
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Cleeve A, Annerstedt KS, Betrán AP, Mölsted Alvesson H, Kaboré Wendyam C, Carroli G, Lumbiganon P, Nhu Hung MQ, Zamboni K, Opiyo N, Bohren MA, El Halabi S, Gialdini C, Vila Ortiz M, Escuriet R, Robson M, Dumont A, Hanson C. Implementing the QUALI-DEC project in Argentina, Burkina Faso, Thailand and Viet Nam: a process delineation and theory-driven process evaluation protocol. Glob Health Action 2023; 16:2290636. [PMID: 38133667 PMCID: PMC10763892 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2023.2290636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The project 'Quality Decision-making by women and providers' (QUALI-DEC) combines four non-clinical interventions to promote informed decision-making surrounding mode of birth, improve women's birth experiences, and reduce caesarean sections among low-risk women. QUALI-DEC is currently being implemented in 32 healthcare facilities across Argentina, Burkina Faso, Thailand, and Viet Nam. In this paper, we detail implementation processes and the planned process evaluation, which aims to assess how and for whom QUALI-DEC worked, the mechanisms of change and their interactions with context and setting; adaptations to intervention and implementation strategies, feasibility of scaling-up, and cost-effectiveness of the intervention. We developed a project theory of change illustrating how QUALI-DEC might lead to impact. The theory of change, together with on the ground observations of implementation processes, guided the process evaluation strategy including what research questions and perspectives to prioritise. Main data sources will include: 1) regular monitoring visits in healthcare facilities, 2) quantitative process and output indicators, 3) a before and after cross-sectional survey among post-partum women, 4) qualitative interviews with all opinion leaders, and 5) qualitative interviews with postpartum women and health workers in two healthcare facilities per country, as part of a case study approach. We foresee that the QUALI-DEC process evaluation will generate valuable information that will improve interpretation of the effectiveness evaluation. At the policy level, we anticipate that important lessons and methodological insights will be drawn, with application to other settings and stakeholders looking to implement complex interventions aiming to improve maternal and newborn health and wellbeing.Trial registration: ISRCTN67214403.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Cleeve
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, and Karolinska University Healthcare facility, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Ana Pilar Betrán
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/World Bank Special Program of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Pisake Lumbiganon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | | | - Karen Zamboni
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- The Global Fund, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Newton Opiyo
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/World Bank Special Program of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Meghan A. Bohren
- Gender and Women’s Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Soha El Halabi
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Celina Gialdini
- Centro Rosarino de Estudios Perinatales, Rosario, Argentina
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Fundacio Blanquerna, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercedes Vila Ortiz
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Centro Rosarino de Estudios Perinatales, Rosario, Argentina
| | - Ramón Escuriet
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Fundacio Blanquerna, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Health, Government of Catalonia, Spain
| | - Michael Robson
- The National Maternity Hospital and University College Dublin, National University of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alexandre Dumont
- Université Paris Cité, Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), Inserm, Paris, France
| | - Claudia Hanson
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Disease Control, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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22
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Norheim OF, Watkins DA. The Role of HTA for Essential Health Benefit Package Design in Low or Middle-Income Countries. Health Syst Reform 2023; 9:2273051. [PMID: 37948391 DOI: 10.1080/23288604.2023.2273051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
This Commentary explores the relationship between Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and Health Benefits Package (HBP) design to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in low- and middle-income countries. It emphasizes that while HTA evaluates individual healthcare interventions, HBP reform aims to create comprehensive service sets considering overall population health needs and available resources. Challenges in LMICs include limited local data and technical capacity, leading to reliance on cost-effectiveness estimates from other settings. We suggest a practical approach by combining HTA and HBP elements through a hybrid or compartmentalized method. This approach sets differentiated cost-effectiveness thresholds for specific healthcare platforms or programs (e.g., primary care or essential surgery), aligning priority-setting with organizational considerations, ethics, and implementation strategies. Strong institutions and academic support are vital for evidence-informed priority-setting processes. In summary, HTA can play a pivotal role in designing HBPs for UHC in LMICs, and a compartmentalized approach can enhance priority-setting while considering budget constraints and equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole F Norheim
- Bergen Centre for Ethics and Priority Setting (BCEPS), Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, USA
| | - David A Watkins
- Bergen Centre for Ethics and Priority Setting (BCEPS), Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
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den Boon S, Ahmed S, Sarker AR. Economic evaluations of immunization programs as an indispensable tool for policymakers. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1284. [PMID: 37993890 PMCID: PMC10666433 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10071-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introducing new vaccines within national immunization programs requires careful consideration of disease- and vaccine-related issues as well as of the strength of the program and the affected health system. Economic evaluations play an essential role in this process. In this editorial, we set the context and invite contributions for a BMC Health Services Research Collection of articles titled 'Economic Evaluations of Vaccine Programs'.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sayem Ahmed
- Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - Abdur Razzaque Sarker
- Health Economics and Financing Research, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- Health Economics Unit, Centre for Health Policy, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
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Phelps CE. On the (Near) Equivalence of Welfarist and Extra-Welfarist Methods to Value Healthcare With Implications for Assessing Equity. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2023; 26:1601-1607. [PMID: 37597613 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2023.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES While welfarist economics (WE) methods rely wholly on individuals' valuations, extra-welfarist (EW) methods seek alternative measures of value. Major reviews of the EW literature conclude that EW studies almost universally replace "utility" with "health" as the maximand. This analysis seeks to understand what conclusions are necessary and sufficient to make EW and WE methods concurrent and discusses implications for measuring social value. METHODS Using standard WE methods, I demonstrate that EW is equivalent to WE with 2 key restrictions-individuals have constant returns to health in producing utility and health budgets are fixed. Fixing budgets removes a key WE step, determining the marginal rate of substitution between consumption and health, the willingness to pay for health gains. RESULTS Because EW methods equate with WE with these 2 restrictions, I show how formal models to construct aggregated social welfare functions (SWFs) in WE frameworks lead directly to SWF models using EW models of value. I also show that, in fixed-budget health systems, when SWFs place different values for improving health of different subpopulations, aggregate health output fails as a SWF criterion. I demonstrate how different societal values can and should enter EW SWF models using WE criteria. I also discuss the implications when either of these key restrictions does not properly represent people's preferences. CONCLUSIONS Once EW methods are shown to be a restricted form of WE methods, those WE methods can illuminate how best to measure SWFs in EW environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles E Phelps
- Departments of Economics and Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
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25
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Salikhanov I, Kunirova G, Aitbaeva A, Crape B, Wieser S, Katapodi M. Cost-Effectiveness of Hospice Palliative Care for Patients With Cancer and Family Caregivers: A Multicenter Study in Kazakhstan. Value Health Reg Issues 2023; 38:69-76. [PMID: 37586226 DOI: 10.1016/j.vhri.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In Kazakhstan, palliative care is offered through hospices, cancer centers, general hospitals, and mobile teams to approximately 107 000 patients in need. As a country with a transitional economy and a newly implemented social healthcare insurance system, Kazakhstan seeks a cost-effective allocation of limited resources for end-of-life care. This study aimed to assess cost-effectiveness of hospice-based palliative care for patients with cancer compared with the current standard of care provided in cancer centers across the country and, thereby, provide a better understanding for policy making regarding palliative care. METHODS A total of 182 family caregivers were recruited, 104 from 3 hospices and 78 from 3 palliative care units of cancer centers. Patients' state of health and family caregivers' burden were assessed with the Palliative Outcome Scale and the Zarit Burden Interview. Direct medical and nonmedical costs and family caregivers' out-of-pocket expenses associated with palliative care were collected. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted by generating 1000 resamples using bootstrapping with Monte-Carlo simulation. RESULTS After 14 days of inpatient palliative care, patients' mean Palliative Outcome Scale score was 2.5 points better in the hospice group than the cancer center group. Family caregiver burden was 4.5 points better in the hospice group. Mean treatment costs were $31 lower for the hospice group. There was a statistically significant correlation between the total cost of treatment and patients' quality of life (r = 0.58). Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that hospice-based care has better outcomes and lower costs than care provided in cancer centers in 80% of tested scenarios. CONCLUSION Hospice-based palliative care is cost-effective compared with the care provided in palliative units of cancer centers in resource-limited settings in Kazakhstan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Islam Salikhanov
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | | | | | - Byron Crape
- School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Simon Wieser
- Winterthur Institute of Health Economics, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
| | - Maria Katapodi
- Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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26
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Haacker M. Contributions of declining mortality, overall and from HIV, TB and malaria, to reduced health inequality and inequity across countries. Health Policy Plan 2023; 38:939-948. [PMID: 37409745 PMCID: PMC10506528 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czad046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective to reduce global health inequalities and inequities is integral to the global development agenda, from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the sustainable development goals and the ongoing response to coronavirus disease. Yet, summary measures of global health gains or of the cost-effectiveness of global health programmes barely capture how well they improve the lives of the most disadvantaged populations. This paper instead explores the distribution of global health gains across countries and the implications for health inequality and inequity (here referring to health disadvantages that reinforce economic disadvantage, and vice versa) across countries. Specifically, it studies the distribution of gains in life expectancy across countries (overall and owing to reduced mortality from HIV, TB and malaria), using the Gini index and a concentration index ranking countries by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita as indicators of health inequality and inequity. By these counts, global inequality in life expectancy across countries declined by one-third between 2002 and 2019. Reduced mortality from HIV, TB and malaria accounted for one-half of this decline. Fifteen countries in sub-Saharan Africa, containing 5% of the global population, accounted for 40% of the global decline in inequality, with nearly six-tenth of this contribution coming from HIV, TB and malaria. Inequity in life expectancy across countries declined by nearly 37%, with a contribution from HIV, TB and malaria of 39% of this gain. Our findings show how simple indicators on the distribution of health gains across countries usefully complement aggregate measures of global health gains and underscore their positive contribution to the global development agenda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Haacker
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
- Center for Global Development, Washington, DC 20036, United States
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
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27
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Nguyen HA, Ahmed S, Turner HC. Overview of the main methods used for estimating catastrophic health expenditure. COST EFFECTIVENESS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION 2023; 21:50. [PMID: 37553675 PMCID: PMC10408045 DOI: 10.1186/s12962-023-00457-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Out-of-pocket payments are expenditures borne directly by an individual/household for health services that are not reimbursed by any third-party. Households can experience financial hardship when the burden of such out-of-pocket payments is significant. This financial hardship is commonly measured using the "catastrophic health expenditure" (CHE) metric. CHE has been applied as an indicator in several health sectors and health policies. However, despite its importance, the methods used to measure the incidence of CHE vary across different studies and the terminology used can be inconsistent. In this paper, we introduce and raise awareness of the main approaches used to calculate CHE and discuss critical areas of methodological variation in a global health context. We outline the key features, foundation and differences between the two main methods used for estimating CHE: the budget share and the capacity-to-pay approach. We discuss key sources of variation within CHE calculation and using data from Ethiopia as a case study, illustrate how different approaches can lead to notably different CHE estimates. This variation could lead to challenges when decisionmakers and policymakers need to compare different studies' CHE estimates. This overview is intended to better understand how to interpret and compare CHE estimates and the potential variation across different studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huyen Anh Nguyen
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
| | - Sayem Ahmed
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment, School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Hugo C Turner
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London, UK
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28
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Sheen D, Peasgood T, Goranitis I. Eliciting Societal Preferences for Non-health Outcomes: A Person Trade-Off Study in the Context of Genomics. Clin Ther 2023; 45:710-718. [PMID: 37524571 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Economic evaluations of health technologies traditionally aim to maximize population health outcomes measured by using quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Non-health outcomes, however, may have high social value, and their exclusion has the potential to bias decisions regarding allocation of health care resources. This research positions Australian participants as societal decision-makers to explore their willingness to trade-off health gains in adults for non-health benefits in families with a child affected by a rare disease. METHODS To estimate the social value of the different health care interventions, a person trade-off (PTO) method was used. PTOs present participants with groups of beneficiaries that vary in terms of the number of individuals who will benefit, the individuals' characteristics, their expected benefits, or a combination, and ask which group should be prioritized. Each trade-off presented health gains from the treatment of moderate physical and mental health conditions described by the 3-level version of the EuroQol 5-Dimension (EQ-5D-3L) health states. The health gains in these groups were traded-off against non-health gains in families accessing diagnostic genomic testing, and equivalence values were calculated, using median and ratio of means methods, based on the ratio of the group sizes at the point of equivalence. Participants were recruited through Prolific and were stratified according to age, sex, and education. The impact of participant characteristics on equivalence values was assessed using Kruskal-Wallis H tests and ordinary least-squares log-linear regressions. FINDINGS Participants (N = 434) positioned as societal decision-makers were generally willing to trade-off adult health gains with the familial non-health benefits of genomic testing, showing a preference for valuing both types of outcomes within public health policy. The aggregation of preferences generated 2 weightings for genomic testing against each health treatment, an unadjusted value and a reweighted value to match target demographic characteristics. Converted into QALY value per test, it was found that participants valued the non-health benefits of genomic testing between 0.730 and 0.756 QALY. A minority of participants always prioritized diagnostic genomic testing over the physical (6.0%) or mental (4.6%) health treatments, with a larger minority always prioritizing the physical (15.4%) or mental (14.8%) health treatments. IMPLICATIONS The findings indicate that participants perceived the non-health parental benefits in children experiencing rare disease to have comparable value to health gains in adults experiencing the moderate physical or mental health conditions described using EQ-5D-3L. These findings suggest that the benefits of genomic tests would be underestimated if only health benefits are included in economic evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Sheen
- Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Health Economics Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tessa Peasgood
- Health Economics Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ilias Goranitis
- Health Economics Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Australian Genomics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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29
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Assebe LF, Norheim O. Distributional impact of infectious disease interventions in the Ethiopian Essential Health Service Package: a modelling study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e067658. [PMID: 37460265 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Reducing inequalities in health and financial risk are key goals on the path toward universal health coverage, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. The design of the health benefit package creates an opportunity to select interventions through established criteria. The aim of this study is to examine the health equity and financial protection impact of selected interventions, along with their costs, at the national level in Ethiopia. DESIGN Distributional cost-effectiveness analysis. POPULATION The eligible population for all selected interventions is assumed to be 10 million. DATA SOURCES Data on disease prevalence and population size were gathered from the Global Burden of Disease database, and average health benefits and program costs are sourced from the Ethiopian Essential Health Service Package (EHSP) database, national surveys and other publicly available sources. INTERVENTION A total of 30 interventions were selected from the latest EHSP revision and analysed over a 1-year period. OUTCOME MEASURES Health benefits, social welfare indices and financial protection metrics across income quintiles were reported. RESULTS We found 23 interventions that improve population health and reduce health inequality and four interventions reduce both population health and health inequality. Additionally, three interventions improve population health while increasing health inequality. Overall, the EHSP interventions provide a 0.021 improvement in health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE) per person, with a positive distributional equity impact: 0.029 (26.9%) HALE gained in the poorest and 0.015 (14.0%) in the richest quintile. Similarly, a total of 1 79 475 cases of catastrophic health expenditure were averted, including 82 100 (46.0%) cases in the poorest and 17 900 (10.0%) in the richest quintile. CONCLUSION Increasing access to the EHSP improves health equity and financial protection. Improved access to selected EHSP interventions also has the potential to provide greater benefits to the poorest and thereby improve social welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lelisa Fekadu Assebe
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ole Norheim
- Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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30
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Hutubessy R, Lauer JA, Giersing B, Sim SY, Jit M, Kaslow D, Botwright S. The Full Value of Vaccine Assessments (FVVA): a framework for assessing and communicating the value of vaccines for investment and introduction decision-making. BMC Med 2023; 21:229. [PMID: 37400797 PMCID: PMC10318807 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02929-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several economic obstacles can deter the development and use of vaccines. This can lead to limited product options for some diseases, delays in new product development, and inequitable access to vaccines. Although seemingly distinct, these obstacles are actually interrelated and therefore need to be addressed through a single over-arching strategy encompassing all stakeholders. METHODS To help overcome these obstacles, we propose a new approach, the Full Value of Vaccines Assessments (FVVA) framework, to guide the assessment and communication of the value of a vaccine. The FVVA framework is designed to facilitate alignment across key stakeholders and to enhance decision-making around investment in vaccine development, policy-making, procurement, and introduction, particularly for vaccines intended for use in low- and middle-income countries. RESULTS The FVVA framework has three key elements. First, to enhance assessment, existing value-assessment methods and tools are adapted to include broader benefits of vaccines as well as opportunity costs borne by stakeholders. Second, to improve decision-making, a deliberative process is required to recognize the agency of stakeholders and to ensure country ownership of decision-making and priority setting. Third, the FVVA framework provides a consistent and evidence-based approach that facilitates communication about the full value of vaccines, helping to enhance alignment and coordination across diverse stakeholders. CONCLUSIONS The FVVA framework provides guidance for stakeholders organizing global-level efforts to promote investment in vaccines that are priorities for LMICs. By providing a more holistic view of the benefits of vaccines, its application also has the potential to encourage greater take-up by countries, thereby leading to more sustainable and equitable impacts of vaccines and immunization programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond Hutubessy
- Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Department, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jeremy A. Lauer
- Strathclyde Business School, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Birgitte Giersing
- Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Department, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - So Yoon Sim
- Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Department, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Mark Jit
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - David Kaslow
- PATH Center for Vaccine Innovation and Access, Seattle, USA
| | - Siobhan Botwright
- Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Department, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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31
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Cadham CJ, Prosser LA. Eliciting Trade-Offs Between Equity and Efficiency: A Methodological Scoping Review. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2023; 26:943-952. [PMID: 36805575 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2023.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify differences in the approaches and results of studies that elicit equity-efficiency trade-offs that can inform equity-informative cost-effectiveness analysis for healthcare resource allocation. METHODS We searched Ovid (Medline), EconLit, and Scopus prior to June 25, 2021. Inclusion criteria were: (1) peer-reviewed or (2) gray literature; (3) published in English; (4) survey-based; (5) parameterized a social welfare function to quantify inequality aversion or (6) elicited a trade-off in equity and efficiency characteristics of health interventions. Exclusion criteria were: (1) studies that did not conduct a trade-off or (2) theoretical studies. We abstracted details on study methods, results, and limitations. Studies were grouped by following approach: (1) social welfare function or (2) preference ranking and distributional weighting. We described findings separately for each approach category. RESULTS Seventy-seven papers were included, 28 parameterized social welfare functions and 49 were classified as preference ranking and distributional weighting. Study methods were heterogeneous. Studies were conducted across 29 countries. Sample sizes and composition, survey methods and question framing varied. Preferences for equity were mixed. Across both approach categories: 39 studies were classified as clear evidence of inequality aversion; 33 found mixed evidence; and 4 had no evidence of aversion. Evidence of between and within-study heterogeneity was found. Preferences for equity may differ by gender, profession, political ideology, income, and education. CONCLUSIONS Substantial variability in study methods limit the direct comparability of findings and their use in equity-informed cost-effectiveness analysis. Future researches using representative samples that explore within and between country heterogeneity is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Cadham
- Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Lisa A Prosser
- Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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32
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Vallejo-Torres L. The Broader Opportunity Costs in the Broader Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Framework. APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY 2023; 21:373-384. [PMID: 37043159 PMCID: PMC10119227 DOI: 10.1007/s40258-023-00801-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The traditional cost-effectiveness analysis framework usually takes a healthcare system perspective, where the aim is to maximise population health from a fixed budget allocated to healthcare. Extensions to this framework have been suggested, including: (i) incorporating impacts that fall outside the healthcare sector; (ii) accounting for outcomes beyond health; and (iii) assessing equity considerations. Several alternatives have been proposed that serve these purposes, for example, the extended "impact inventory", the "beyond-the-QALY" approach and the distributional cost-effectiveness analysis. OBJECTIVE This paper aims to develop a comprehensive framework that incorporates into the cost-effectiveness analysis framework some of its most advocated extensions and provides a means of arriving at a unidimensional cost-effectiveness analysis result measure. METHODS Building on previous work, I proposed a framework that explicitly incorporates the full extent of the opportunity costs that arise when new dimensions and distributional concerns are included in cost-effectiveness analyses. A hypothetical example is provided as a way of illustration. RESULTS Operationalising the proposed framework requires system-wide representative values and/or robust estimates concerning: (i) selecting dimensions; (ii) measuring opportunity costs associated with each dimension; (iii) quantifying equity weights and percentages of beneficiaries and losers meeting equity considerations; and (iv) attaching monetary values to dimensions measured using a non-monetary metric. CONCLUSIONS Extending the cost-effectiveness analysis framework entails extending the measurement of the opportunity costs of funding decisions. This implies populating an ambitious puzzle that in some cases poses fundamental conceptual and empirical questions. Potential routes of further research that might facilitate such undertaking are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vallejo-Torres
- Department of Quantitative Methods in Economics and Management, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Edificio de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales. Mȯdulo D. Campus de Tafira, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Spain.
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33
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Kim DD, Do LA, Synnott PG, Lavelle TA, Prosser LA, Wong JB, Neumann PJ. Developing Criteria for Health Economic Quality Evaluation Tool. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2023:S1098-3015(23)02561-5. [PMID: 37068557 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2023.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Because existing publication guidelines and checklists have limitations when used to assess the quality of cost-effectiveness analysis, we developed a novel quality assessment tool for cost-effectiveness analyses, differentiating methods and reporting quality and incorporating the relative importance of different quality attributes. METHODS We defined 15 quality domains from a scoping review and identified 72 methods and reporting quality attributes (36 each). After designing a best-worst scaling survey, we fielded an online survey to researchers and practitioners to estimate the relative importance of the attributes in February 2021. We analyzed the survey data using a sequential conditional logit model. The final tool included 48 quality attributes deemed most important for assessing methods and reporting quality (24 each), accompanied by a free and web-based scoring system. RESULTS A total of 524 participants completed the methodology section, and 372 completed both methodology and reporting sections. Quality attributes pertaining to the "modeling" and "data inputs and evidence synthesis" domains were deemed most important for methods quality, including "structure of the model reflects the underlying condition and intervention's impact" and "model validation is conducted." Quality attributes pertaining to "modeling" and "Intervention/comparator(s)" domains were considered most important for reporting quality, including "model descriptions are detailed enough for replication." Despite its growing prominence, "equity considerations" were not deemed as important as other quality attributes. CONCLUSIONS The Criteria for Health Economic Quality Evaluation tool allows users to differentiate methods and reporting as well as quantifies the relative importance of quality attributes. Alongside other considerations, it could help assess and improve the quality of cost-effectiveness evidence to inform value-based decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David D Kim
- Section of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Lauren A Do
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patricia G Synnott
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tara A Lavelle
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lisa A Prosser
- The Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research (CHEAR) Center, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - John B Wong
- Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Clinical Decision Making, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter J Neumann
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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Baek Y, Ademi Z, Fisher J, Tran T, Owen A. Equity in Economic Evaluations of Early Childhood Development Interventions in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: Scoping Review. Matern Child Health J 2023; 27:1009-1029. [PMID: 37036566 PMCID: PMC10160157 DOI: 10.1007/s10995-023-03650-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to examine how equity is integrated into economic evaluations of early childhood development interventions in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), and to narratively synthesize the study characteristics and findings. METHODS We conducted a scoping review by searching three electronic databases with terms including equity, early childhood development intervention, economic evaluation, and LMICs. Interventions that aimed to improve child cognitive, physical, language, motor, or social and emotional development through health, nutrition, security and safety, responsive caregiving, and early learning interventions between conception and age 8 years were considered. Studies published in English peer-reviewed journals in the year 2000 and later were included. RESULTS The review included 24 cost-effectiveness studies out of 1460 identified articles based on eligibility criteria. The included studies addressed health, nutrition, social protection, and water, sanitation and hygiene interventions for child development. The common type of intervention was immunization. Mostly, equity was measured using household wealth or geographic areas, and the study findings were presented through subgroup analyses. The study settings were LMICs, but most studies were conducted by research teams from high-income countries. Overall, 63% of included studies reported that early childhood development interventions improved equity with greater intervention benefits observed in disadvantaged groups. CONCLUSIONS Consideration of equity in evaluations of early childhood interventions provides a more complete picture of cost-effectiveness, and can improve equity. Greater focus on promoting equity consideration, multi-sectoral interventions, and researchers in LMICs would support evidence-based interventions and policies to achieve equity in child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeji Baek
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Zanfina Ademi
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jane Fisher
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Thach Tran
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Alice Owen
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
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Mao W, Watkins D, Sabin ML, Huang K, Langlois E, Ogundeji Y, Fogstad H, Schäferhoff M, Yamey G, Ogbuoji O. Effects of public financing of essential maternal and child health interventions across wealth quintiles in Nigeria: an extended cost-effectiveness analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2023; 11:e597-e605. [PMID: 36925179 PMCID: PMC10030457 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(23)00056-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal and newborn mortality rates in Nigeria are among the highest globally, and large socioeconomic inequalities exist in access to maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services in the country. Inequalities also exist in catastrophic health expenditure among households in Nigeria. We aimed to estimate the health and financial risk protection benefits across different wealth groups in Nigeria if a policy of public financing of MNCH interventions were to be introduced. METHODS We did an extended cost-effectiveness analysis to estimate the health and financial risk protection benefits, across different household wealth quintiles, of a public-financing policy that assumes zero out-of-pocket costs to patients at the point of care for 18 essential MNCH services. We projected health outcomes (deaths in children aged <5 years [under-5 deaths] and maternal deaths) and private expenditure averted using the Lives Saved Tool with data extracted from national surveys. We modelled three scenarios: 1) coverage expansion at a rate equal to the trend observed between 2013 and 2018 (status quo); 2) annual coverage expansion by 5% compared with the status quo (uniform scale-up scenario); and 3) annual coverage expansion by 10%, 8%, 6%, 4%, and 2% compared with the status quo from the poorest to the wealthiest quintiles, respectively (pro-poor scale-up scenario). FINDINGS Our analysis shows that, if an additional 5% increase in coverage was provided for all wealth quintiles between 2019 and 2030, this uniform scale-up policy would prevent more than 0·11 million maternal deaths and 1·05 million under-5 deaths, avert US$1·8 billion in private expenditure, and avert 3266 cases of catastrophic health expenditure. The incremental cost effectiveness ratio would be $44 per life-year gained, which is highly cost-effective when compared with the gross domestic product per capita of Nigeria for 2018 ($2028). The policy would prevent a higher number of under-5 deaths and catastrophic health expenditure cases in poorer quintiles, but would prevent more maternal deaths and private expenditure in wealthier quintiles. If poorer populations experienced a greater increase in service coverage (ie, the pro-poor scale-up scenario), more maternal and under-5 deaths would be prevented in the poorer quintiles and more private expenditure would be averted than would be under previous scenarios. INTERPRETATION Public financing of essential MNCH interventions in Nigeria would provide substantial health and financial risk protection benefits to Nigerian households. These benefits would accrue preferentially to the poorest quintiles and would contribute towards reduction of health and socioeconomic inequalities in Nigeria. The distribution would be more pro-poor if public financing of MNCH interventions could target poor households. FUNDING WHO Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Mao
- Center for Policy Impact in Global Health, Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Miriam L Sabin
- The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Katy Huang
- The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Etienne Langlois
- The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yewande Ogundeji
- Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation, Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Helga Fogstad
- The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Gavin Yamey
- Center for Policy Impact in Global Health, Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA; Margolis Center for Health Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Osondu Ogbuoji
- Center for Policy Impact in Global Health, Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA; Margolis Center for Health Policy, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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Schröder H, Yapa HM, Gómez-Olivé FX, Thirumurthy H, Seeley J, Bärnighausen T, De Neve JW. Intergenerational spillover effects of antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review and future directions for research. BMJ Glob Health 2023; 8:bmjgh-2022-011079. [PMID: 37068847 PMCID: PMC10111905 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-011079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antiretroviral therapy (ART) may influence individuals who do not receive the intervention but who are connected in some way to the person who does. Relatively little is known, however, about the size and scope of, what we term, spillover effects of ART. We explored intergenerational spillover effects of ART in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and identified several directions for future research. METHODS We conducted a scoping review between March and April 2022. We systematically searched PubMed, PsycINFO, EconLit, OTseeker, AIDSInfo, Web of Science, CINHAL, Google Scholar and African Index Medicus. We analysed the distribution of included studies over time and summarised their findings. We examined the intergenerational impact of ART provision to working-age adults living with HIV on children ('downward' spillover effects) and older adults ('upward' spillover effects). We categorised types of intergenerational spillover effects according to broad themes which emerged from our analysis of included studies. FINDINGS We identified 26 studies published between 2005 and 2022 with 16 studies assessing spillover effects from adults to children (downward), and 1 study explicitly assessing spillover effects from working-age adults to older adults (upward). The remaining studies did not fully specify the direction of spillover effects. Most spillover effects of ART to household and family members were beneficial and included improvements in wealth, labour market outcomes, health outcomes and health services utilisation, schooling, and household composition. Both children and older adults benefited from ART availability among adults. Detrimental spillover effects were only reported in three studies and included financial and opportunity costs associated with health services utilisation and food insecurity in the first year after ART. CONCLUSIONS ART may lead to substantial spillover effects across generations and sectors in SSA. Further research is needed to capitalise on positive spillover effects while mitigating potential negative spillover effects. The returns to investments in large-scale health interventions such as ART may be underestimated without considering these societal benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henning Schröder
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - H Manisha Yapa
- Westmead Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Francesc Xavier Gómez-Olivé
- Medical Research Council/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Harsha Thirumurthy
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Janet Seeley
- Department of Global Health & Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Till Bärnighausen
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
- Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jan-Walter De Neve
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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Kwon J, Squires H, Young T. Economic model of community-based falls prevention: seeking methodological solutions in evaluating the efficiency and equity of UK guideline recommendations. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:187. [PMID: 36997884 PMCID: PMC10061399 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-03916-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Falls significantly harm geriatric health and impose substantial costs on care systems and wider society. Decision modelling can inform the commissioning of falls prevention but face methodological challenges, including: (1) capturing non-health outcomes and societal intervention costs; (2) considering heterogeneity and dynamic complexity; (3) considering theories of human behaviour and implementation; and (4) considering issues of equity. This study seeks methodological solutions in developing a credible economic model of community-based falls prevention for older persons (aged 60 +) to inform local falls prevention commissioning as recommended by UK guidelines. Methods A framework for conceptualising public health economic models was followed. Conceptualisation was conducted in Sheffield as a representative local health economy. Model parameterisation used publicly available data including English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and UK-based falls prevention trials. Key methodological developments in operationalising a discrete individual simulation model included: (1) incorporating societal outcomes including productivity, informal caregiving cost, and private care expenditure; (2) parameterising dynamic falls-frailty feedback loop whereby falls influence long-term outcomes via frailty progression; (3) incorporating three parallel prevention pathways with unique eligibility and implementation conditions; and (4) assessing equity impacts through distributional cost-effectiveness analysis (DCEA) and individual-level lifetime outcomes (e.g., number reaching ‘fair innings’). Guideline-recommended strategy (RC) was compared against usual care (UC). Probabilistic sensitivity, subgroup, and scenario analyses were conducted. Results RC had 93.4% probability of being cost-effective versus UC at cost-effectiveness threshold of £20,000 per QALY gained under 40-year societal cost-utility analysis. It increased productivity and reduced private expenditure and informal caregiving cost, but productivity gain and private expenditure reduction were outstripped by increases in intervention time opportunity costs and co-payments, respectively. RC reduced inequality delineated by socioeconomic status quartile. Gains in individual-level lifetime outcomes were small. Younger geriatric age groups can cross-subsidise their older peers for whom RC is cost-ineffective. Removing the falls-frailty feedback made RC no longer efficient or equitable versus UC. Conclusion Methodological advances addressed several key challenges associated with falls prevention modelling. RC appears cost-effective and equitable versus UC. However, further analyses should confirm whether RC is optimal versus other potential strategies and investigate feasibility issues including capacity implications. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-023-03916-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Kwon
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG England
| | - Hazel Squires
- grid.11835.3e0000 0004 1936 9262School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court (ScHARR), 30 Regent Street, S1 4DA Sheffield, England
| | - Tracey Young
- grid.11835.3e0000 0004 1936 9262School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court (ScHARR), 30 Regent Street, S1 4DA Sheffield, England
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Patikorn C, Cho JY, Lambach P, Hutubessy R, Chaiyakunapruk N. Equity-Informative Economic Evaluations of Vaccines: A Systematic Literature Review. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:622. [PMID: 36992206 PMCID: PMC10057152 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The Immunization Agenda 2030 prioritizes the populations without access to vaccines. Health equity has been increasingly incorporated into economic evaluations of vaccines to foster equitable access. Robust and standardized methods are needed to evaluate the health equity impact of vaccination programs to ensure monitoring and effective addressing of inequities. However, methods currently in place vary and potentially affect the application of findings to inform policy decision-making. We performed a systematic review by searching PubMed, Embase, Econlit, and the CEA Registry up to 15 December 2022 to identify equity-informative economic evaluations of vaccines. Twenty-one studies were included that performed health equity impact analysis to estimate the distributional impact of vaccines, such as deaths averted and financial risk protection, across equity-relevant subgroups. These studies showed that the introduction of vaccines or improved vaccination coverage resulted in fewer deaths and higher financial risk benefits in subpopulations with higher disease burdens and lower vaccination coverage-particularly poorer income groups and those living in rural areas. In conclusion, methods to incorporate equity have been evolving progressively. Vaccination programs can enhance equity if their design and implementation address existing inequities in order to provide equitable vaccination coverage and achieve health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanthawat Patikorn
- Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- Department of Social and Administrative Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10540, Thailand
| | - Jeong-Yeon Cho
- Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Philipp Lambach
- Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Raymond Hutubessy
- Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB), World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk
- Department of Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
- IDEAS Center, Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Healthcare System, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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Evaluating efficiency and equity of prevention and control strategies for rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in India: an extended cost-effectiveness analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2023; 11:e445-e455. [PMID: 36796988 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(22)00552-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a dearth of evidence on the cost-effectiveness of a combination of population-based primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and control strategies for rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. The present analysis evaluated the cost-effectiveness and distributional effect of primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions and their combinations for the prevention and control of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in India. METHODS A Markov model was constructed to estimate the lifetime costs and consequences among a hypothetical cohort of 5-year-old healthy children. Both health system costs and out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) were included. OOPE and health-related quality-of-life were assessed by interviewing 702 patients enrolled in a population-based rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease registry in India. Health consequences were measured in terms of life-years and quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) gained. Furthermore, an extended cost-effectiveness analysis was undertaken to assess the costs and outcomes across different wealth quartiles. All future costs and consequences were discounted at an annual rate of 3%. FINDINGS A combination of secondary and tertiary prevention strategies, which had an incremental cost of ₹23 051 (US$30) per QALY gained, was the most cost-effective strategy for the prevention and control of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in India. The number of rheumatic heart disease cases prevented among the population belonging to the poorest quartile (four cases per 1000) was four times higher than the richest quartile (one per 1000). Similarly, the reduction in OOPE after the intervention was higher among the poorest income group (29·8%) than among the richest income group (27·0%). INTERPRETATION The combined secondary and tertiary prevention and control strategy is the most cost-effective option for the management of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in India, and the benefits of public spending are likely to be accrued much more by those in the lowest income groups. The quantification of non-health gains provides strong evidence for informing policy decisions by efficient resource allocation on rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease prevention and control in India. FUNDING Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi.
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Hendrix N, Bolongaita S, Villano D, Memirie ST, Tolla MT, Verguet S. Equitable Prioritization of Health Interventions by Incorporating Financial Risk Protection Weights Into Economic Evaluations. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2023; 26:411-417. [PMID: 36494302 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2022.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Financial risk protection (FRP), or the prevention of medical impoverishment, is a major objective of health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the extent of out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditures can be substantial. We sought to develop a method that allows decision makers to explicitly integrate FRP outcomes into their priority-setting activities. METHODS We used literature review to identify 31 interventions in low- and middle-income countries, each of which provided measures of health outcomes, costs, OOP health expenditures averted, and FRP (proxied by OOP health expenditures averted as a percentage of income), all disaggregated by income quintile. We developed weights drawn from the Z-score of each quintile-intervention pair based on the distribution of FRP of all quintile-intervention pairs. We next ranked the interventions by unweighted and weighted health outcomes for each income quintile. We also evaluated how pro-poor they were by, first, ordering the interventions by cost-effectiveness for each quintile and, next, calculating the proportion of interventions each income quintile would be targeted for a given random budget. A ranking was said to be pro-poor if each quintile received the same or higher proportion of interventions than richer quintiles. RESULTS Using FRP weights produced a more pro-poor priority setting than unweighted outcomes. Most of the reordering produced by the inclusion of FRP weights occurred in interventions of moderate cost-effectiveness, suggesting that these weights would be most useful as a way of distinguishing moderately cost-effective interventions with relatively high potential FRP. CONCLUSIONS This preliminary method of integrating FRP into priority-setting would likely be most suitable to deciding between health interventions with intermediate cost-effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel Hendrix
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Bolongaita
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dominick Villano
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Solomon Tessema Memirie
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Addis Center for Ethics and Priority Setting, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Mieraf Taddesse Tolla
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Addis Center for Ethics and Priority Setting, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Stéphane Verguet
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
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Sherr L, Haag K, Tomlinson M, Rudgard WE, Skeen S, Meinck F, Du Toit SM, Steventon Roberts KJ, Gordon SL, Desmond C, Cluver L. Understanding accelerators to improve SDG-related outcomes for adolescents-An investigation into the nature and quantum of additive effects of protective factors to guide policy making. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0278020. [PMID: 36607964 PMCID: PMC9821522 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence has shown support for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) accelerator concept, which highlights the need to identify interventions or programmatic areas that can affect multiple sustainable development goals (SDGs) at once to boost their achievement. These data have also clearly shown enhanced effects when interventions are used in combination, above and beyond the effect of single interventions. However, detailed knowledge is now required on optimum combinations and relative gain in order to derive policy guidance. Which accelerators work for which outcomes, what combinations are optimum, and how many combinations are needed to maximise effect? The current study utilised pooled data from the Young Carers (n = 1402) and Child Community Care (n = 446) studies. Data were collected at baseline (n = 1848) and at a 1 to 1.5- year follow-up (n = 1740) from children and young adolescents aged 9-13 years, living in South Africa. Measures in common between the two databases were used to generate five accelerators (caregiver praise, caregiver monitoring, food security, living in a safe community, and access to community-based organizations) and to investigate their additive effects on 14 SDG-related outcomes. Predicted probabilities and predicted probability differences were calculated for each SDG outcome under the presence of none to five accelerators to determine optimal combinations. Results show that various accelerator combinations are effective, though different combinations are needed for different outcomes. Some accelerators ramified across multiple outcomes. Overall, the presence of up to three accelerators was associated with marked improvements over multiple outcomes. The benefit of targeting access to additional accelerators, with additional costs, needs to be weighed against the relative gains to be achieved with high quality but focused interventions. In conclusion, the current data show the detailed impact of various protective factors and provides implementation guidance for policy makers in targeting and distributing interventions to maximise effect and expenditure. Future work should investigate multiplicative effects and synergistic interactions between accelerators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorraine Sherr
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katharina Haag
- University College London, Institute for Global Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Tomlinson
- Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Institute for Life Course Health Research, Cape Town, South Africa
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queens University, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - William E. Rudgard
- Department of Social Policy & Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Skeen
- Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Institute for Life Course Health Research, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Franziska Meinck
- School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa
| | - Stefani M. Du Toit
- Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Institute for Life Course Health Research, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Sarah L. Gordon
- Department of Global Health, Stellenbosch University, Institute for Life Course Health Research, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Lucie Cluver
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Steijger D, Chatterjee C, Groot W, Pavlova M. Challenges and Limitations in Distributional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: A Systematic Literature Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:505. [PMID: 36612824 PMCID: PMC9819735 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cost-effectiveness is a tool to maximize health benefits and to improve efficiency in healthcare. However, efficient outcomes are not always the most equitable ones. Distributional cost-effectiveness analysis (DCEA) offers a framework for incorporating equity concerns into cost-effectiveness analysis. OBJECTIVE This systematic review aims to outline the challenges and limitations in applying DCEA in healthcare settings. METHODS We searched Medline, Scopus, BASE, APA Psych, and JSTOR databases. We also included Google Scholar. We searched for English-language peer-reviewed academic publications, while books, editorials and commentary papers were excluded. Titles and abstract screening, full-text screening, reference list reviews, and data extraction were performed by the main researcher. Another researcher checked every paper for eligibility. Details, such as study population, disease area, intervention and comparators, costs and health effects, cost-effectiveness findings, equity analysis and effects, and modelling technique, were extracted. Thematic analysis was applied, focusing on challenges, obstacles, and gaps in DCEA. RESULTS In total, 615 references were identified, of which 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most of these studies were published after 2017. DCEA studies were mainly conducted in Europe and Africa and used quality health-adjusted measurements. In the included studies, absolute inequality indices were used more frequently than relative inequality indices. Every stage of the DCEA presented challenges and/or limitations. CONCLUSION This review provides an overview of the literature on the DCEA in healthcare as well as the challenges and limitations related to the different steps needed to conduct the analysis. In particular, we found problems with data availability, the relative unfamiliarity of this analysis among policymakers, and challenges in estimating differences among socioeconomic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Steijger
- Master’s Program Global Health, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Chandrima Chatterjee
- Master’s Program Global Health, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Wim Groot
- Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Milena Pavlova
- Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Quaife M, Medley GF, Jit M, Drake T, Asaria M, van Baal P, Baltussen R, Bollinger L, Bozzani F, Brady O, Broekhuizen H, Chalkidou K, Chi YL, Dowdy DW, Griffin S, Haghparast-Bidgoli H, Hallett T, Hauck K, Hollingsworth TD, McQuaid CF, Menzies NA, Merritt MW, Mirelman A, Morton A, Ruiz FJ, Siapka M, Skordis J, Tediosi F, Walker P, White RG, Winskill P, Vassall A, Gomez GB. Considering equity in priority setting using transmission models: Recommendations and data needs. Epidemics 2022; 41:100648. [PMID: 36343495 PMCID: PMC9623400 DOI: 10.1016/j.epidem.2022.100648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Disease transmission models are used in impact assessment and economic evaluations of infectious disease prevention and treatment strategies, prominently so in the COVID-19 response. These models rarely consider dimensions of equity relating to the differential health burden between individuals and groups. We describe concepts and approaches which are useful when considering equity in the priority setting process, and outline the technical choices concerning model structure, outputs, and data requirements needed to use transmission models in analyses of health equity. METHODS We reviewed the literature on equity concepts and approaches to their application in economic evaluation and undertook a technical consultation on how equity can be incorporated in priority setting for infectious disease control. The technical consultation brought together health economists with an interest in equity-informative economic evaluation, ethicists specialising in public health, mathematical modellers from various disease backgrounds, and representatives of global health funding and technical assistance organisations, to formulate key areas of consensus and recommendations. RESULTS We provide a series of recommendations for applying the Reference Case for Economic Evaluation in Global Health to infectious disease interventions, comprising guidance on 1) the specification of equity concepts; 2) choice of evaluation framework; 3) model structure; and 4) data needs. We present available conceptual and analytical choices, for example how correlation between different equity- and disease-relevant strata should be considered dependent on available data, and outline how assumptions and data limitations can be reported transparently by noting key factors for consideration. CONCLUSIONS Current developments in economic evaluations in global health provide a wide range of methodologies to incorporate equity into economic evaluations. Those employing infectious disease models need to use these frameworks more in priority setting to accurately represent health inequities. We provide guidance on the technical approaches to support this goal and ultimately, to achieve more equitable health policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Quaife
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK,Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - GF Medley
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - M. Jit
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - T. Drake
- Center for Global Development in Europe (CGD Europe), UK
| | - M. Asaria
- LSE Health, London School of Economics, UK
| | - P. van Baal
- Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - R. Baltussen
- Nijmegen International Center for Health Systems Research and Education, Radboudmc, the Netherlands
| | | | - F. Bozzani
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - O. Brady
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - H. Broekhuizen
- Centre for Space, Place, and Society, Wageningen University and Research, Netherlands
| | - K. Chalkidou
- International Decision Support Initiative, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Y.-L. Chi
- International Decision Support Initiative, Imperial College London, UK
| | - DW Dowdy
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA
| | - S. Griffin
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, UK
| | - H. Haghparast-Bidgoli
- Institute for Global Health, Centre for Global Health Economics, University College London, UK
| | - T. Hallett
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, UK
| | - K. Hauck
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, UK
| | - TD Hollingsworth
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, UK
| | - CF McQuaid
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - NA Menzies
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, USA
| | - MW Merritt
- Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics and Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States
| | - A. Mirelman
- Centre for Health Economics, University of York, UK
| | - A. Morton
- Department of Management Science, University of Strathclyde, UK
| | - FJ Ruiz
- International Decision Support Initiative, Imperial College London, UK
| | - M. Siapka
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK,Impact Elipsis, Greece
| | - J. Skordis
- Institute for Global Health, Centre for Global Health Economics, University College London, UK
| | - F. Tediosi
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and Universität Basel, Switzerland
| | - P. Walker
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, UK
| | - RG White
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - P. Winskill
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, UK
| | - A. Vassall
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK,Correspondence to: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 15 – 17 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SH, UK
| | - GB Gomez
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
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Smith NR, Grummon AH, Ng SW, Wright ST, Frerichs L. Simulation models of sugary drink policies: A scoping review. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275270. [PMID: 36191026 PMCID: PMC9529101 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Simulation modeling methods are an increasingly common tool for projecting the potential health effects of policies to decrease sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake. However, it remains unknown which SSB policies are understudied and how simulation modeling methods could be improved. To inform next steps, we conducted a scoping review to characterize the (1) policies considered and (2) major characteristics of SSB simulation models. METHODS We systematically searched 7 electronic databases in 2020, updated in 2021. Two investigators independently screened articles to identify peer-reviewed research using simulation modeling to project the impact of SSB policies on health outcomes. One investigator extracted information about policies considered and key characteristics of models from the full text of included articles. Data were analyzed in 2021-22. RESULTS Sixty-one articles were included. Of these, 50 simulated at least one tax policy, most often an ad valorem tax (e.g., 20% tax, n = 25) or volumetric tax (e.g., 1 cent-per-fluid-ounce tax, n = 23). Non-tax policies examined included bans on SSB purchases (n = 5), mandatory reformulation (n = 3), warning labels (n = 2), and portion size policies (n = 2). Policies were typically modeled in populations accounting for age and gender or sex attributes. Most studies focused on weight-related outcomes (n = 54), used cohort, lifetable, or microsimulation modeling methods (n = 34), conducted sensitivity or uncertainty analyses (n = 56), and included supplementary materials (n = 54). Few studies included stakeholders at any point in their process (n = 9) or provided replication code/data (n = 8). DISCUSSION Most simulation modeling of SSB policies has focused on tax policies and has been limited in its exploration of heterogenous impacts across population groups. Future research would benefit from refined policy and implementation scenario specifications, thorough assessments of the equity impacts of policies using established methods, and standardized reporting to improve transparency and consistency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Riva Smith
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Anna H. Grummon
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School / Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Shu Wen Ng
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
- Carolina Population Center, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Sarah Towner Wright
- Health Sciences Library, UNC Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Leah Frerichs
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
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Menkir TF, Donnelly CA. The impact of repeated rapid test strategies on the effectiveness of at-home antiviral treatments for SARS-CoV-2. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5283. [PMID: 36075923 PMCID: PMC9453717 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32640-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Regular rapid testing can provide twofold benefilts: identifying infectious individuals and providing positive tests sufficiently early during infection that treatment with antivirals can effectively inhibit development of severe disease. Here, we provide a quantitative illustration of the extent of nirmatrelvir-associated treatment benefits that are accrued among high-risk populations when rapid tests are administered at various intervals. Strategies for which tests are administered more frequently are associated with greater reductions in the risk of hospitalization, with weighted risk ratios for testing every other day to once every 2 weeks ranging from 0.17 (95% CI: 0.11-0.28) to 0.77 (95% CI: 0.69-0.83) and correspondingly, higher proportions of the infected population benefiting from treatment, ranging from 0.26 (95% CI: 0.18-0.34) to 0.92 (95% CI: 0.80-0.98), respectively. Importantly, reduced treatment delays, coupled with increased test and treatment coverage, have a critical influence on average treatment benefits, confirming the significance of access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tigist F. Menkir
- grid.38142.3c000000041936754XCenter for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA USA ,grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Department of Statistics, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Christl A. Donnelly
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Department of Statistics, Oxford University, Oxford, UK ,grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Vassall A, Sweeney S, Barasa E, Prinja S, Keogh-Brown MR, Tarp Jensen H, Smith R, Baltussen R, M Eggo R, Jit M. Integrating economic and health evidence to inform Covid-19 policy in low- and middle- income countries. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 5:272. [PMID: 36081645 PMCID: PMC9433912 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16380.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Covid-19 requires policy makers to consider evidence on both population health and economic welfare. Over the last two decades, the field of health economics has developed a range of analytical approaches and contributed to the institutionalisation of processes to employ economic evidence in health policy. We present a discussion outlining how these approaches and processes need to be applied more widely to inform Covid-19 policy; highlighting where they may need to be adapted conceptually and methodologically, and providing examples of work to date. We focus on the evidential and policy needs of low- and middle-income countries; where there is an urgent need for evidence to navigate the policy trade-offs between health and economic well-being posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Vassall
- Centre for Health Economics in London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Sedona Sweeney
- Centre for Health Economics in London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Edwine Barasa
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kenya and Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Shankar Prinja
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Marcus R Keogh-Brown
- Centre for Health Economics in London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Henning Tarp Jensen
- Centre for Health Economics in London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Department of Food and Resource Economics, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Richard Smith
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Rob Baltussen
- Radboud University Medical Centre, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rosalind M Eggo
- Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Disease, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Mark Jit
- Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Disease, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Carrandi A, Bull C, Callander E. Health Economics and Equity in Preconception Health Care: A Systematic Review. Semin Reprod Med 2022; 40:205-213. [PMID: 35777631 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1749684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Poor pregnancy outcomes affect a child's lifelong health and disadvantaged populations are at higher risk of poor pregnancy outcomes. Preconception care aims to improve pregnancy outcomes by managing conditions and risks prior to conception. Given known inequities in pregnancy outcomes, the adoption of preconception care may benefit disadvantaged populations. Health economics plays an important role in the implementation of interventions, as economic evaluations seek to identify the most efficient and equitable care options. This review aimed to identify the cost-effectiveness of preconception care and how equity has been considered in these evaluations. A systematic review of literature published between 2012-2022 was undertaken to identify studies that evaluate the economic outcomes of preconception care. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were manually searched for consideration of equity in the economic evaluation analysis. Costs were presented and a narrative synthesis of studies reporting on outcomes of equity was conducted. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, and only two reported on aspects of equity, specifically ethnicity. Considering the significant disparities in pregnancy outcomes among disadvantaged populations, aspects of equity are important to consider when implementing and evaluating preconception interventions. Therefore, it is recommended that future research focuses on the cost-effectiveness of preconception care and that these evaluations incorporate aspects of equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alayna Carrandi
- Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Claudia Bull
- Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Emily Callander
- Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Sivan M, Greenhalgh T, Darbyshire JL, Mir G, O'Connor RJ, Dawes H, Greenwood D, O'Connor D, Horton M, Petrou S, de Lusignan S, Curcin V, Mayer E, Casson A, Milne R, Rayner C, Smith N, Parkin A, Preston N, Delaney B. LOng COvid Multidisciplinary consortium Optimising Treatments and servIces acrOss the NHS (LOCOMOTION): protocol for a mixed-methods study in the UK. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e063505. [PMID: 35580970 PMCID: PMC9114312 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-063505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Long COVID, a new condition whose origins and natural history are not yet fully established, currently affects 1.5 million people in the UK. Most do not have access to specialist long COVID services. We seek to optimise long COVID care both within and outside specialist clinics, including improving access, reducing inequalities, helping self-management and providing guidance and decision support for primary care. We aim to establish a 'gold standard' of care by systematically analysing current practices, iteratively improving pathways and systems of care. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This mixed-methods, multisite study is informed by the principles of applied health services research, quality improvement, co-design, outcome measurement and learning health systems. It was developed in close partnership with patients (whose stated priorities are prompt clinical assessment; evidence-based advice and treatment and help with returning to work and other roles) and with front-line clinicians. Workstreams and tasks to optimise assessment, treatment and monitoring are based in three contrasting settings: workstream 1 (qualitative research, up to 100 participants), specialist management in 10 long COVID clinics across the UK, via a quality improvement collaborative, experience-based co-design and targeted efforts to reduce inequalities of access, return to work and peer support; workstream 2 (quantitative research, up to 5000 participants), patient self-management at home, technology-supported monitoring and validation of condition-specific outcome measures and workstream 3 (quantitative research, up to 5000 participants), generalist management in primary care, harnessing electronic record data to study population phenotypes and develop evidence-based decision support, referral pathways and analysis of costs. Study governance includes an active patient advisory group. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION LOng COvid Multidisciplinary consortium Optimising Treatments and servIces acrOss the NHS study is sponsored by the University of Leeds and approved by Yorkshire & The Humber-Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee (ref: 21/YH/0276). Participants will provide informed consent. Dissemination plans include academic and lay publications, and partnerships with national and regional policymakers. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT05057260, ISRCTN15022307.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Sivan
- Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Trisha Greenhalgh
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Ghazala Mir
- Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Rory J O'Connor
- Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Helen Dawes
- College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Darren Greenwood
- Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Mike Horton
- Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Stavros Petrou
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon de Lusignan
- Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Vasa Curcin
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Erik Mayer
- Department of Biosurgery and Surgical Technology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Alexander Casson
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ruairidh Milne
- Public Health, Wessex Institute, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | | | | | - Amy Parkin
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - Nick Preston
- Academic Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Brendan Delaney
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Postma MJ, Noone D, Rozenbaum MH, Carter JA, Botteman MF, Fenwick E, Garrison LP. Assessing the value of orphan drugs using conventional cost-effectiveness analysis: Is it fit for purpose? Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022; 17:157. [PMID: 35382853 PMCID: PMC8981887 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-022-02283-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional cost-effectiveness analysis—i.e., assessing pharmaceuticals through a cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) framework—originated from a societal commitment to maximize population health given limited resources. This "extra-welfarist" approach has produced pricing and reimbursement systems that are not well- aligned with the unique considerations of orphan drugs. This framework has been slow to evolve along with our increased understanding of the impact of rare diseases, which in turn has complicated the assessment of orphan drugs meant to treat rare diseases. Herein, we (i) discuss the limitations of conventional cost-effectiveness analysis as applied to assessing access to, as well as the pricing and reimbursement of, orphan drugs, (ii) critically appraise alternative and supplemental approaches, and (iii) offer insights on plausible steps forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten J Postma
- Department of Health Sciences, University Medical Center, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Economics, Econometrics and Finance, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Declan Noone
- European Haemophilia Consortium, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | - Louis P Garrison
- Comparative Health Outcomes, Policy, and Economics Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
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50
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Neumann PJ, Garrison LP, Willke RJ. The History and Future of the "ISPOR Value Flower": Addressing Limitations of Conventional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2022; 25:558-565. [PMID: 35279370 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2022.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Since its publication as part of the 2018 ISPOR Special Task Force (STF) on US Value Assessments, the "ISPOR value flower," with its petals highlighting elements that may be overlooked or underappreciated in conventional drug value assessments, has been discussed and debated. We review the history of the value flower, describe recent developments, and consider implications for future value assessments. METHODS We discuss various antecedents to the value flower, as well as conceptual and empirical articles published in the past 4 years. RESULTS Since the publication of the ISPOR STF report, researchers have provided more rigorous theoretical and mathematical foundations for certain novel value elements (eg, severity of illness, value of insurance, value of hope) through "generalized risk-adjusted cost-effectiveness analysis," which incorporates risk aversion in people's preferences and uncertainty in treatment outcomes. Empirical estimates are also emerging to support key elements, such as insurance value, real option value, value of hope, and value of knowing. Although health technology assessment bodies have applied or are considering certain elements (eg, severity modifiers to cost-effectiveness thresholds), other elements have yet to gain traction. CONCLUSIONS Five years after the STF began its work, the development of novel value measures continues to evolve. Although it is encouraging to see supporting empirical studies emerging, more are needed. Additional efforts are also needed to illustrate how the estimates can be used in the deliberative processes that are integral to health technology assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Neumann
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health, Health at the Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy Studies, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Louis P Garrison
- Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program, University of Washington School of Pharmacy, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Richard J Willke
- The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
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