Estimating treatment cost functions for progressive diseases: A multiproduct approach with an application to breast cancer

doi:10.1016/0167-6296(95)00007-5

Journal of Health Economics

Volume 14, Issue 3, August 1995, Pages 361-385

https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-6296(95)00007-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

Using the theory of multiproduct cost functions, a treatment cost function is derived for diseases which progress through a number of stages. The output classes are conceived as the stages at detection of the disease, with the unit of output within each class being the treated case. The derivation clarifies the assumptions underlying various specific functional forms for the treatment cost function. An empirical application to the treatment of breast cancer is provided, producing evidence on an important issue in the economics of screening programs, viz. whether detection of breast cancer at an earlier stage results in treatment cost savings.

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Context: Economic evaluations are costly and cannot always be carried out locally. Therefore, decision-makers may wish to use studies already performed in other settings. Objective: To define a method for assessing the eligibility of published economic evaluations for transfer to a given health care system and apply it to the french health care system in the clinical situation of adjuvant therapy for women with breast cancer. Methods: (1) Literature search in six databases from 1982 to 1996; (2) critical appraisal of articles based on four inclusion criteria; and (3) assessment of the eligibility of the studies for transfer based on five indicators. Results: We identified 26 published economic evaluations concerning adjuvant therapy in women with breast cancer. Six (23%) met all four criteria used to select studies, but none of these studies were eligible for transfer to the french health care system. The main reason was that cost data was not reported in a transparent way. Conclusions: To improve the transferability of economic evaluations, we recommend that requirements for data provision in publications be standardized and international collaboration strengthened.
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Scientific articleEstimating treatment cost functions for progressive diseases: A multiproduct approach with an application to breast cancer

Abstract

Applied production analysis: A dual approach

Multivariate analysis

The value of mammography screening in women under age 50 years

Journal of the American Medical Association

Scientific article
Estimating treatment cost functions for progressive diseases: A multiproduct approach with an application to breast cancer