313.631.01 ECONOMIC EVALUATION II

Enables students to understand and apply current methods in the economic evaluation of health interventions. Students design and carry out an economic evaluation. Analytic topics covered include the role of decision analysis in economic evaluation - students are introduced to, and extensively use, the TreeAge software; the principles and practices of measuring and analyzing costs; and estimating QALYs and DALYs. Also introduces students to a range of techniques for presenting data on costs and effects together such as sensitivity analysis and league tables. Finally, introduces students to a critique of the value of economic evaluation in health care decision-making.

By the end of this course students should be able to: (i) identify the key features of different types of economic evaluation and explain when each type of evaluation is most appropriately used; (ii) assess the relevance and value of economic evaluation for health policy and planning; (iii) carry out an illustrative economic evaluation designed to guide the investment decisions of planners in developing health policy.