A tool to improve quality of reporting published economic analyses.
OBJECTIVE
To test the feasibility of obtaining a baseline level of quality of reporting for cost-utility analysis (CUA) studies using the British Medical Journal economic submissions checklist, test interrater reliability of this tool, and discuss its longer term implications.


METHODS
CUA studies in peer-reviewed English language journals in 1996, assessed using the British Medical Journal checklist, a quality index, and interrater reliability correlations.


RESULTS
Forty-three CUA studies were assessed, with 23 checklist items acceptable and 10 items inadequate. Lowest quality scores were reported in specialist medical journals. Proportional agreement between assessors was over 80%.


CONCLUSIONS
The British Medical Journal checklist is a feasible tool to collect baseline information on the quality of reporting in journals other than the British Medical Journal. Editors of specialist medical journals are in greatest need of economic guidance. If handled carefully, they might consider adopting the British Medical Journal checklist.
Gerard
K
K
Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation (CHERE), University of Sydney.
Seymour
J
J
Smoker
I
I
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D015588:Observer Variation; D010380:Peer Review; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011643:Publishing / Q000592:standards