title: [Cost-effectiveness analyses: what doctors should know].
abstract: The resources of our heath care system are limited. Choices in the attribution of resources are necessary to ensure its stability. A cost-effectiveness analysis compares the effects of one health intervention to another, taking into account the costs (including the saved costs) and the saved life years, adjusted for the quality of life (cost-utility). Cost-effectiveness analyses should take the societal perspective and the studied intervention should be compared to a relevant intervention actually in use. Physicians, at the interface between patients and payers, are in an ideal position to interpret, or even perform cost-effectiveness analysis, and to promote the interventions that are most effective and that have a reasonable cost.
authors.affiliation: Hospices, CHUV, 1011 Lausanne. Reto.Auer@hospvd.ch
authors.forename: Reto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Auer
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rodondi
authors.forename: Jean-Blaise
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Wasserfallen
authors.forename: Drahomir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aujesky
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cornuz
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000191:economics*