Advanced Topics in Health Economic Evaluation Methods, 7.5 Credits

Contents

The course will start with a discussion about welfare economics and economic evaluation. The arguments for adopting a welfarist versus an extra-welfarist approach as well as questions about how to convert individual utilities into monetary values will be covered. With this basis several issues concerning costing of health resources will be studied – e.g. how to value patient time and time of informal care givers, if unrelated medical and non-medical costs should be included, and how to value productivity costs. Following that, modelling in economic evaluation and how to handle uncertainty will be covered. Questions of discounting, e.g. of health benefits, will also be studied.

Expected learning outcomes

After completion of the course the student should be able to: – explain which different ethical approaches there are to economic evaluation of health and health care and motivate the choice of these approaches. – explain and discuss different ways of treating costs for health and health care in economic evaluations. – explain how one can model the course of a disease in a population and discuss how this can be used in economic evaluations. – explain and discuss how uncertainty is being considered in economic evaluations. – review economic evaluations that have been done in health care with respect to the main questions that have been focused in the course.

Required Knowledge

For non-programme students applying as single-course students, the requirements are 120 ECTS, of which a minimum of 30 ECTS are within one of the following: health sciences, environmental health or social sciences. The applicant must also have a passing grade from 3FH006 Health Economic Evaluation Methods. English proficiency equivalent to IELTS Academic Training – minimum score 5.0 with no individual score below (4.5) (Tests taken before January 2005 not admissible) or TOEFL – minimum score 500 on paper based test and not below 4.0 on the TWE, Alternatively 173 on computer based test with iBT 61 is also required. Language test scores are not required if you have completed a minimum of two years of studies at an accredited university or college with English as the medium of instruction or you have had one year of graduate studies and have written your thesis in English. For more information please see: http://www8.umu.se/phmed/epidemi/utbildning/mph-requirements.htm

Form of instruction

Teaching on the course is concentrated to two weeks during the course period. Teaching is conducted through lectures, group exercises and computer exercises. There are also seminars where students present and discuss a model which they have developed on their own. Attendance is compulsory at these seminars and at the computer exercises. Teaching is given in English

Examination modes

The examination is done in two parts. At the end of the course there is a written exam. During the course the student must in a seminar present a model for calculating incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. The grading scale is Fail, Pass, and Pass with distinction for both the written exam and the model that the student has developed. In order to be awarded Pass for the course, the grade Pass is required both for the written exam and the developed model. In order to be awarded Pass with distinction for the course, the grade Pass with distinction is required both for the written exam and the model. For students who do not receive a passing grade at the first written exam on the course, a re-sit exam is arranged. Correspondingly, an extra seminar is arranged for students who do not receive a passing grade on the developed model. A student who fails two examinations has the right to a change of examiner according to the University’s set of rules. A request to change examiner should be sent to the Board of the Faculty of Medicine.

Other regulations

Start-of-study respite A respite for the start of studies may be granted under special circumstances. Examples of such circumstances are illness, military service, pregnancy, care of children or other nursing responsibilities etc. A negative decision about start-of-study respite may be appealed to Överklagandenämnden för högskolan. Course roll call Attendence is compulsory for the course roll call. A student may be relieved from this obligation only through a decision by the course coordinator and only under special circumstances. Non-attendence without a valid reason may lead to the seat being given to another applicant. A decision about this is made by the course coordinator.

Academic credit transfers are always reviewed individually according to the University’s set of rules and academic credit transfer regulations.