Economic Evaluation Alongside Randomised Trials

Abstract

Economic evaluation is of key importance in rational decision-making. Most interventions have a cost, and some effective interventions are simply too expensive to be implemented. Unless economic evaluations are included alongside randomised trials we run the risk of introducing effective, but cost-ineffective interventions. In this chapter we discuss some of the basic concepts and issues surrounding the use of economic evaluations in trial settings. Economic evaluation is a complex discipline and we do not attempt to do full justice to it here. There are numerous textbooks solely concerned with economics and economic evaluation. In this book we cover some of the key issues and introduce some key concepts which are important to bear in mind when planning an economic aspect to a trial. Ideally, however, one should include an economist in the trial team.