title: Economic evaluation of smoking-cessation therapies: a critical and systematic review of simulation models.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smoking is probably the most important among preventable health risks. Health economic evaluation of smoking-cessation interventions, applying a lifetime perspective, is made possible by available epidemiological knowledge. The well established method of performing cost-effectiveness analyses of smoking-cessation interventions involves mathematical modelling (both deterministic and stochastic) of future events important for cost effectiveness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study surveys cost-effectiveness analyses of smoking cessation, with a particular focus on the mathematical modelling and simulation analyses performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search was performed using the databases MEDLINE, Econlit and Academic Search Complete.
  
  
  METHODS
  Health economic evaluations, published as full-length journal articles, were searched for.
  
  
  RESULTS
  423 studies were identified and 78 were finally included, of which 30 were assessed as being highly relevant, based on the application of simulation modelling.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In general, studies are well performed as regards modelling. Common weaknesses include reporting of modelling details; validation of used simulation models; and the handling of structural uncertainty and different types of heterogeneity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. Kristian.Bolin@nek.lu.se
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bolin
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D008390:Markov Chains; D018803:Models, Economic; D015233:Models, Statistical; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics*