title: Decision analysis and economic modelling: a primer.
abstract: In this primer, the reader is introduced to the concepts governing decision analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis. The construction of decision trees and Markov models is presented to provide the necessary background to critique research articles in published literature. Specific sub-topics related to cost-effectiveness analysis are discussed including quality adjustment and utilities (patient preferences for health states), discounting, and sensitivity analysis including Monte Carlo simulation. Evidence based methods to critique decision and cost-effectiveness analysis are provided, and limitations to these analytic methods are examined. In summary, the major functions of decision analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis are to provide: (1) a quantitative summary of existing data, and (2) hypothesis generation for further research.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan and VA Center for Practice Management and Outcomes Research, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA. jinadomi@umich.edu
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Inadomi
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D003663:Decision Trees; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008390:Markov Chains; D017059:Models, Econometric