Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026
07:05
Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents
Published on: September 10, 2018
Aggregation rules for cost-benefit analysis: a health economics perspective
1London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. josephine_borghi@yahoo.co.uk
Health Economics
|November 10, 2007
Summary
Estimating the total economic value of health programs requires careful aggregation of willingness-to-pay (WTP) data. Including non-users and considering non-use values significantly impacts cost-benefit analysis for resource allocation.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Resource Allocation
- Maternal and Newborn Health
Background:
- Willingness-to-pay (WTP) studies are crucial for cost-benefit analysis (CBA) in healthcare resource allocation.
- However, WTP results are infrequently integrated into CBAs within the health sector.
- Standardized aggregation methods for WTP are needed to inform health policy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review WTP aggregation methods and current practices in the health sector.
- To estimate the total economic value of a women's group program for mother and newborn health.
- To analyze the impact of different aggregation rules on WTP estimates.
Main Methods:
- A contingent valuation survey was conducted with 93 women's group members, 70 female non-members, and 33 husbands.
- WTP values were aggregated using various methods, including mean, median, weighted mean transfer, and equity weights.
- Aggregation considered the inclusion of non-users and different units of aggregation.
Main Results:
- Total WTP estimates more than doubled when including husbands' values.
- WTP increased over 10-fold when non-member women's values were incorporated.
- Inclusion of non-use values and the unit of aggregation significantly influenced total WTP estimates.
Conclusions:
- Aggregation methods, particularly the inclusion of non-use values and non-users, profoundly affect WTP estimates.
- There is a need for consensus on acceptable WTP aggregation methods in health economics.
- Standardized WTP aggregation will enhance its utility in health resource allocation decisions.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
01:23Methods of Documentation V: CBE
Charting by Exception, or CBE, is a method of documentation used in healthcare, particularly in nursing, that focuses on documenting only significant or abnormal findings rather than recording every detail. This approach aims to streamline the documentation process, improve efficiency, and ensure that healthcare providers can quickly identify deviations from normalcy in patient assessments.
In CBE, healthcare professionals establish predefined standards of practice that define what constitutes...
In CBE, healthcare professionals establish predefined standards of practice that define what constitutes...
01:30Health Information Technology and Healthcare Information System
Health Information Technology (HIT)
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:
Health Information Technology, commonly called HIT, integrates advanced information systems and technology in healthcare settings. Its primary functions include:
01:15Methods of Documentation VI: Case Management Model
The case management model is a multidisciplinary approach that involves healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines, such as physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, and pharmacists, working collaboratively to address the various needs of patients. Each healthcare professional brings unique expertise and perspectives, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition and tailoring treatment plans accordingly.
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
For example, a patient with a chronic illness...
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
At the different levels of the healthcare system, we see varying methods of healthcare used. These methods include managed care systems, case management, and primary healthcare.
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
01:12Hazard Ratio
The hazard ratio (HR) is a widely used measure in clinical trials to compare the risk of events, such as death or disease recurrence, between two groups over time. It reflects the ratio of hazard rates—the instantaneous risk of the event occurring—between a treatment group and a control group. This measure provides valuable insights into the relative effectiveness of a treatment by assessing how the risk of an event differs between the two groups.
For example, in a clinical trial evaluating a...
For example, in a clinical trial evaluating a...