Economic evaluation of diagnostic technology. Methodological challenges and viable solutions.
The principles of economic evaluation are increasingly accepted by clinicians and policy makers as evidence from a significant number of studies becomes available to support their decisions. However, methods of assessment still need to be improved. This paper reports a comprehensive review of methodological challenges in the economic evaluation of diagnostic technology, where such challenges are more evident. This review formed the basis for a prioritized research agenda, with four main areas: modeling techniques for dealing with complexity; measures of the opportunity cost of shared resources; techniques for eliciting decision makers' utility functions for diagnostic tests; and ways of assessing the robustness of decisions. A number of methodological solutions are proposed, aimed at capturing elements and relationships that are usually neglected and fully recognizing the presence of an inductive cognitive component in decision-making processes.
Sassi
F
F
London School of Economics and Political Science.
McKee
M
M
Roberts
J A
JA
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D018803:Models, Economic; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012107:Research Design; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods