Dissecting cost-effectiveness analysis for preventive interventions: a guide for decision makers.
BACKGROUND
Decision makers usually limit their use of economic evaluations of preventive interventions to the cost-effectiveness ratio.


OBJECTIVE
To show decision makers how economic evaluations can be used to understand the cost-effectiveness of different options for altering health intervention strategies.


METHODS
Cost-effectiveness analysis provides insights into many factors that contribute to the overall benefits, hazards, and costs of interventions. This article reviews how epidemiologic and intervention characteristics, costs, natural history, targeting, and current interventions influence the value of prevention strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding the factors that contribute to the overall costs and effectiveness of interventions should allow decision makers to better adapt interventions to their needs.
Teutsch
S M
SM
Merck & Co, Inc., PA, USA. steven_teutsch@merck.com
Murray
J F
JF
D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States