Impact of methodology on the results of economic evaluations of varicella vaccination programs: is it important for decision-making?
This study aims to review the literature on economic evaluation of childhood varicella vaccination programs and to discuss how heterogeneity in methodological aspects and estimation of parameters can affect the studies' results. After applying the inclusion criteria, 27 studies published from 1980 to 2008 were analyzed in relation to methodological differences. There was great heterogeneity in the perspective adopted, evaluation of indirect costs, type of model used, modeling of the effect on herpes zoster, and estimation of vaccine price and efficacy parameters. The factor with the greatest impact on results was the inclusion of indirect costs, followed by the perspective adopted and vaccine price. The choice of a particular methodological aspect or parameter affected the studies' results and conclusions. It is essential that authors present these choices transparently so that users of economic evaluations understand the implications of such choices and the direction in which the results of the analysis were conducted.
Soárez
Patrícia Coelho de
PC
Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil. pcsoarez@uol.com.br
Novaes
Hillegonda Maria Dutilh
HM
Sartori
Ana Marli Christovan
AM
D002644:Chickenpox / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000517:prevention & control; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D015397:Program Evaluation
D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D053061:Herpes Zoster Vaccine