BMJ  2007;335:622-623 (29 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.39332.587581.BE (published 14 September 2007)

Editorials

New methods of analysing cost effectiveness

Value of information analyses must be integrated into the process of commissioning primary research

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Interest in whether health interventions are value for money as well as effective has meant that the term cost effectiveness¹ is commonly used (and sometimes misused) in the clinical literature. Consequently, methods for determining cost effectiveness have been refined, especially techniques for synthesising evidence and representing uncertainty in the results of such evaluations. Techniques such as multi-parameter evidence synthesis² and value of information analysis³ are now routinely integrated into cost effectiveness studies, especially health technology appraisals (HTAs) conducted for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. But is there real value in the development and application of such techniques, or have these new methods emerged simply as a consequence of involving academics in the process of evaluation?

Colbourn and colleagues present a cost effectiveness and value of information analysis of strategies for preventing group B streptococcal and other bacterial infections in early infancy.⁴ This is a timely assessment of . . . [Full text of this article]

Public Health and Health Policy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8RZ

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