title: The use of cost-effectiveness analysis in plastic surgery clinical research.
abstract: The goal of this article is to introduce clinical investigators to the basic concepts of cost-effectiveness analysis. This line of research is not commonly pursued in clinical studies probably because of unfamiliarity of plastic surgeons with the field of health economics and health research methodology in general. The authors believe that the coupling of cost-effectiveness analysis with clinical studies is important and should be incorporated into surgical clinical research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton Health Sciences Centre, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8N 3Z5, Canada. athoma@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Achilleas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thoma
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Strumas
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rockwell
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McKnight
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000191:economics*; D012107:Research Design; D013518:Surgery, Plastic