Dr Ranjeeta Thomas COW 2.07

This course is compulsory on the Executive MSc in Health Economics, Policy and Management. This course is not available as an outside option.

The aim is to give an overview of the theory underlying economic evaluation as applied to the health care sector; to consider the different forms of economic evaluation; to give an understanding of the techniques associated with economic evaluation as applied to health care; to give an understanding of the interpretation of the results gained from economic evaluation; to provide the main practical tools necessary to undertake economic evaluation using computer-based programs. The course will cover the following topics: Conceptual rationales for economic evaluation in the health care sector (Pareto efficiency, Social Welfare, extra-welfarism and decision-making); Introduction to the methods of economic evaluation: cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-utility analysis, and Cost-benefit analysis; Cost data; Incremental cost-effectiveness analysis; Quality Adjusted Life Years gained and other outcome measures; Discounting; Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis; Economic evaluation and clinical trials; Policy decision-making using economic evaluation. 

This course will be delivered as a combination lectures and seminars. In seminars students will work on structured learning activities set by the course lead.

In class group exercise: critical appraisal of published evidence

M Drummond et al, Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes, Oxford, OUP, 2015, fourth edition..

M Drummond & A McGuire (Eds), Economic Evaluation in Health Care: Merging Theory with Practice, Oxford, OUP, 2002.

Gray, A. Clarke, P.M, Wolstenholme, P., Wordsworth, S. Applied Methods of Cost-effectiveness Analysis in Healthcare (Handbooks in Health Economic Evaluation), Oxford, OUP, 2011.

Students will be given access to essential readings before the course begins through the pre-sessional reading programme on Moodle, which they will be expected to read prior to the first day of class.

Take-home assessment (100%) in the ST.

Students will complete a take home assessment of critical appraisal of a published study (100% of the final mark) in the weeks following teaching delivery.