Cost effectiveness

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Translational Science Benefits

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Clinical

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Community

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Economic

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Policy

Economic benefits (Financial savings & benefits)

Definition

Improvement in the benefits of a program relative to its cost. Cost-effectiveness analysis takes into account differences in medical costs, productivity, health outcomes with and without the intervention in place. Cost-effectiveness can be assessed for drugs, devices, programs, or other services.

Rationale

Cost effectiveness is used as an analytic tool to assess which medical care should be provided by comparing the cost and effectiveness of different interventions. It helps to inform healthcare decision-making as to allocation of funding and finding ways to deliver healthcare more efficiently.

Guidance

Advice from authors on searching for information:

Cost savings and cost effectiveness are distinct concepts that are often confused or used interchangeably. Newly developed and established drugs, procedures, and other interventions that decrease costs is cost saving. However, if the benefits provided by the drugs, procedures, and other interventions are sufficient, the intervention is considered to be cost-effective even if costs are not reduced.  Refer to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Cost Savings and Cost-Effectiveness of Clinical Preventive Care policy brief for more information.

Groups such as government agencies (federal, state, and local), institutions, professional societies, governing boards, or expert panels, can conduct cost effectiveness analyses.  Cost effective analyses are also conducted by non-governmental agencies such as hospitals, schools, or specialty organizations. Consult the website of pertinent organizations for analyses related to a disease, disorder, or condition.

Resources & Data

Organizations, repositories, websites, and other sources where you can find more information:

Data Limitations

Challenges you may encounter while searching for information:

Cost effectiveness research by nature is focused on a specific topic such as cardiology or vaccines. Studies may not be available for all topics.

Publications

Articles, books, and other publications in translational science using the benefit:

Case Studies

Safeguarding Occupational and Public Health During the Overdose Crisis – SHIELD Training Model

By SHIELD Training Initiative

Enhancing occupational safety and public health through training that prepares first responders for overdose emergencies.

Clinical & medical benefits

Community & public health benefits

Economic benefits

Policy & legislative benefits

A young boy sits in a chair as he receives his chemotherapy treatment intravenously.

Transforming Tears to Smiles: Reducing Needle-based Procedural Pain in Children with Cancer Globally

By St. Jude Global

The Global Comfort Promise initiative reduces needle pain and anxiety for children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries, supporting better adherence to treatment plans and ultimately improving health and survival outcomes

Clinical & medical benefits

Community & public health benefits

Economic benefits

Policy & legislative benefits

Guiding Healthcare Workers and Governments on Treating Any Child with Cancer, Anywhere.

By St. Jude Global

The ARIA Guide provides cancer management guidelines for a range of geographic and resource-diverse settings, freely available to healthcare providers worldwide through the ARIA Guide web portal

Clinical & medical benefits

Community & public health benefits

Economic benefits

Policy & legislative benefits