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Health Economics

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:4.00
Study Course Accepted:22.08.2022 14:23:55
Study Course Information
Course Code:SL_110LQF level:Level 7
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:Mathematics; Theory of Probability and Mathematical StatisticsTarget Audience:Life Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Eva Petrošina
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Statistics Unit
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:14 Baložu street, Riga, statistikaatrsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67060897
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)1Lecture Length (academic hours)3Total Contact Hours of Lectures3
Classes (count)7Class Length (academic hours)3Total Contact Hours of Classes21
Total Contact Hours24
Part-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)1Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures2
Classes (count)7Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes14
Total Contact Hours16
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Students should have some familiarity with the concepts of economic evaluation.
Objective:
To give an understanding of practical, methodological and theoretical issues related to the economic evaluation of health care programmes, and how economic evaluation can be applied to the health care sector to form decisions.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Introduction. Economic evaluation in health care.Lectures1.00auditorium
2Life tables and extrapolation.Classes1.00computer room
3Measuring, valuing, and analysing health outcomes.Classes1.00computer room
4Defining, measuring, and valuing costs.Classes1.00computer room
5Analysing costs.Classes1.00computer room
6Decision analytic modelling: decision trees.Classes1.00computer room
7Decision analytic modelling: Markov models.Classes1.00computer room
8Finals. Analysing cost-effectiveness studies.Classes1.00computer room
Topic Layout (Part-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Introduction. Economic evaluation in health care.Lectures1.00auditorium
2Life tables and extrapolation.Classes1.00computer room
3Measuring, valuing, and analysing health outcomes.Classes1.00computer room
4Defining, measuring, and valuing costs.Classes1.00computer room
5Analysing costs.Classes1.00computer room
6Decision analytic modelling: decision trees.Classes1.00computer room
7Decision analytic modelling: Markov models.Classes1.00computer room
8Finals. Analysing cost-effectiveness studies.Classes1.00computer room
Assessment
Unaided Work:
• Literature studies on each of 8 topics. • 2 homeworks on topics of: 1. Health outcomes and costs. 2. Decision analytic modelling.
Assessment Criteria:
Assessment on the 10-point scale according to the RSU Educational Order: • 2 homeworks, each counting 25% of the final grade. • Closed book written exam (50%)
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam (Written)
Final Examination (Part-Time):Exam (Written)
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:Students will: • Explain the foundations and scope of cost and efficiency analyses. • List how efficiency analyses can be used in formulation of public policy. • Define what information is needed to do analyses. • Describe empirical methods that are in use in the health care area. • Outline the theory, principles and methods of economic evaluation. • Explain basic cost concepts and methods for analysing uncertainty. • Distinguish methods for modelling and collection of data for economic evaluation, as well as methods for monetary valuations of health improvements.
Skills:Students will be able to: • Apply production theory, incl. cost functions, efficiency and productivity concepts. • Choose statistical tools for analysing costs, productivity and efficiency. • Use empirical productivity analyses of hospital data. • Perform a basic economic evaluation. • Select medical interventions according to the decision rules of cost-effectiveness analysis. • Calculate costs and health outcomes of different medical interventions. • Develop a decision model Judgement and approach. • Assess the choice of methods for economic evaluation of health care programmes. • Reflect on the role of health economic evaluation for different actors in society.
Competencies:Students will be competent to: • Calculate efficiency and cost estimates based on provided data, critically analyse them and, if necessary, carry out additional analysis. • Judge and discuss the relevance and limitations of empirical efficiency and performance measures, demonstrating awareness of the potential impact of professional activity on society. • Assess and interpret cost-effectiveness studies, integrating knowledge from different areas.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Cost Effectiveness Modelling for Health Technology Assessment: A Practical Course / Richard Edlin, Christopher McCabe, Claire Hulme. 2015.
2The Economics of Health and Health Care / Sherman Folland, Allen Charles Goodman, and Miron Stano. 2017.
3Drummond MF et al. Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes, 4th edition. New York: Oxford University Press (Paperback). 2015.