Toward quality assurance in QALY calculations.
The utility weights that are used in published scientific articles for assessing benefits in terms of quality-adjusted life-years gained often have a weak theoretical and empirical basis. To a large extent, the weights seem to be used without critical thought and sensible discussion. In a majority of cases, the sensitivity of the results to the weights that have been chosen is not demonstrated, and readers are not provided with information in a way that facilitates independent calculations. This paper calls for a standard for future publications.
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Norwegian National Institute of Public Health.
D006302:Health Services Research / Q000592:standards*; D006304:Health Status; D008017:Life Expectancy; D009664:Norway; D011643:Publishing; D011786:Quality Control; D011788:Quality of Life; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D026712:Value of Life