In message <[log in to unmask]>, David Burnett
<[log in to unmask]> writes
> A dictionary definition of 'cost effective' is 'adequate financial return
> in relation to outlay'. This seems a very inappropriate definition in
> relation to healthcare activity. Can anybody provide any other definition
> or source of information. Thankyou
>
Dr Burnett
There has been much disagreement as to how this term should be used in
the context of meaningful interpretation of claims that a clinical
intervention, procedure or diagnostic test is cost effective.
In an excellent paper Doubilet, Weinstein and McNeil (1986) describe
three ways the term is misused. As a result they suggested that in a
medical context the term 'cost-effective' should be used when an
intervention "provides a benefit at an acceptable cost". They go on to
identify 4 criteria of cost-effectiveness. This might be used as a
useful operational definition.
Reference: Doubilet P, Weinstein MC, McNeil BJ. Use and misuse of the
term "cost-effective" in medicine. New England Journal of Medicine
1986;314:253-6.
Also see: Gold MR, Siegel JE, Russell LB, Weinstein MC. Cost-
Effectiveness in Health and Medicine. New York: Oxford University Press.
1996.
I will be interested in other definitions there might be.
Regards
Derek Cramp
--
Professor D.G.Cramp
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