Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27160452›Full record

SynthesisWorld journal of surgery2016

A Systematic Review of Economic Analysis of Surgical Mission Trips Using the World Health Organization Criteria.

Michael T Nolte, Brianna L Maroukis, Kevin C Chung, Elham Mahmoudi

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in World journal of surgery, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Barriers to Obtaining Informed Consent on Shortterm Surgical Missions.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2020
    Article
  7. Review
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Michael T NolteUniversity of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Brianna L MaroukisDepartment of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Kevin C ChungSection of Plastic Surgery, Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Elham MahmoudiDepartment of Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Rd, Building 16, Room G024W, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA. mahmoudi@med.umich.edu.

Funding

Evidence-Based Research in Hand SurgeryK24AR053120 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI CHUNG, KEVIN C · 2008 to 2018
$1.6M
NIAMS NIH HHS K24 AR053120
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlthough the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed tools to standardize economic evaluations of global health interventions, little is known about the cost-effectiveness of surgical mission trips and their economic values. Our objective was to systematically evaluate the current literature on surgical volunteering trips to measure their adherence to WHO CHOosing Interventions that are cost-effective (WHO-CHOICE). We hypothesized that the majority of studies use some type of cost-effectiveness analysis that do not adhere to these standards.

methodsA systematic review of Pubmed, Medline, and Embase databases was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, with inclusion criteria set a priori. Of the 908 publications screened, 72 were selected for full text review; 17 met inclusion criteria.

resultsOnly 17 out of 72 studies reported some type of economic analysis. We categorized the studies into service, educational, and combination (service and educational) surgical trips. Although seven of the service studies calculated the cost per disability-adjusted life year averted, the results were not based on WHO-CHOICE standards to facilitate comparisons among alternative options. Furthermore, none of the three educational trips calculated the value of the education provided, but only published cost estimates of the resources used during the trip.

conclusionsAlthough a few studies performed some type of economic analysis, owing to their non-adherence to WHO-CHOICE standards, the results were not comparable to other studies. International surgical trips are expensive. To improve the efficacy and optimal use of limited resources, studies on surgical trips should follow the guidelines set by the WHO-CHOICE.

Indexed as

Cost-Benefit AnalysisHealth Care CostsHumansMedical MissionsModels, EconometricQuality-Adjusted Life YearsSurgical Procedures, OperativeWorld Health Organization

Identifiers

PMID27160452

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.