title: Handling time in economic evaluation studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  lime horizon and discounting are important issues in economic evaluation studies and have an impact on the priority of different programs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Provides supporting rational and theories to propose the appropriate discount rate for both cost and effect and time horizon for conducting economic evaluation studies in Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Describe the theories that explain time horizon for both the cost of a study and its effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recommended uniform discount rate for both costs and effects at the base case is 3% with a variance in range from 0-6% by sensitivity analysis. The time horizon should be long enough to capture the full costs and effects of the programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Care, Faculty of Phamacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand. unchalee@pharmacy.cmu.ac.th
authors.forename: Unchalee
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Permsuwan
authors.forename: Kansinee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guntawongwan
authors.forename: Piyaluk
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Buddhawongsa
mesh_terms: D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D018803:Models, Economic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D013785:Thailand; D013995:Time