HAR6260: Economic Evaluation

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Overview

The Economic Evaluation module is led by Tracey Young and Thai Son Tong. It runs in the Autumn semester and is worth 15 credits.

It is one of the modules on:

This module is available as a CPD option

This module is available in any year as a DDP module

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Introduction

This module introduces the basic principles of economic evaluation as applied to healthcare interventions.

The course introduces the concept of economic evaluation, the different types that are available and the various stages and techniques that need to be applied to generate results.

Current practice guidelines will be described so that students can understand the current policy context of the methods.

Also, as alternative techniques are described, their strengths and weaknesses will be highlighted, with the students being encouraged to critically appraise their appropriateness to different contexts.

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Objectives

This module aims to:

• Introduce the basic principles of economic evaluation as applied to healthcare interventions
• Enable students to understand the basic principles of economic evaluation and the methods used to operationalise them in applied research
• Enable students to critically appraise the validity of the basic principles of economic evaluation and the methods used to operationalise them, and their appropriateness to different contexts
• Enable students to match methods of economic evaluation to current practice guidelines

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Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, a student will be able to:

1. Describe and reflect upon the principles of economic evaluation
2. Describe and reflect upon the methods used to undertake economic evaluations in healthcare
3. Critically appraise published economic evaluations
4. Assess the methods of economic evaluation recommended by current practice guidelines and their appropriateness given the policy context
5. Apply basic methods of economic analysis and interpret the results

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Teaching methods

Informal lectures, some of which will include group exercises, will provide the majority of the contact hours with lecturers (10 x 2hrs).

For six weeks, tutorials will be given to either undertake computer-based work (3 x 2hrs) or discuss the results of practical work that the students will have been asked to undertake (3 x 1 hr).

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Expectations

Students will also be expected to undertake approximately 120 hours of independent study, including preparation for tutorials, preparation for assignments and further recommended reading.

These learning and teaching methods will reinforce learning outcomes and provide practical experience of applying some concepts.