Evidence map›Paper›PMID 24597703›Full record

ArticleCost effectiveness and resource allocation : C/E2014

Economic evaluation of policy initiatives in the organisation and delivery of healthcare: a case study of gastroenterology endoscopy services.

David Cohen, M Fasihul Alam, Nishma Patel, Wai-Yee Cheung, John G Williams, Ian T Russell

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Article in Cost effectiveness and resource allocation : C/E, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

David CohenFaculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd CF37 1DL, UK. david.cohen@southwales.ac.uk.
M Fasihul Alam
Nishma Patel
Wai-Yee Cheung
John G Williams
Ian T Russell

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundComplex clinical interventions are increasingly subject to evaluation by randomised trial linked to economic evaluation. However evaluations of policy initiatives tend to eschew experimental designs in favour of interpretative perspectives which rarely allow the economic evaluation methods used in clinical trials. As evidence of the cost effectiveness of such initiatives is critical in informing policy, it is important to explore whether conventional economic evaluation methods apply to experimental evaluations of policy initiatives.

methodsWe used mixed methods based on a quasi-experimental design to evaluate a policy initiative whose aim was to expedite the modernisation of gastroenterology endoscopy services in England. We compared 10 sites which had received funding and support to modernise their endoscopy services with 10 controls. We collected data from five waves of patients undergoing endoscopy. The economic component of the study compared sites by levels of investment in modernisation and patients' use of health service resources, time off work and health related quality of life.

resultsWe found no statistically significant difference between intervention and control sites in investment in modernisation or any patient outcome including health.

conclusionsThis study highlights difficulties in applying the rigour of a randomised trial and associated technique of economic evaluation to a policy initiative. It nevertheless demonstrates the feasibility of using this approach although further work is needed to demonstrate its generalisability in other applications. The present application shows that the small incentives offered to intervention sites did not enhance modernisation of gastroenterology endoscopy services or improve patient outcomes.

Identifiers

PMID24597703
PMCPMC3945072

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