Public Health 3B

Question 1

What are the three defining features of a health economic evaluation?

define economic evaluation (previous q)

Answer 1

• cost
• benefit
• comparisons of the cost and benefit of 1 service with that of an alternative service

definition: An economic evaluation looks at the cost effectiveness of drugs and treatments, to help inform choices about funding treatments and interventions in healthcare. It compares the costs and benefits of at least 2 alternatives

Question 2

What is 1 QALY?

Answer 2

1 year lived in perfect health

Question 3

What are the to features that comprise a QALY?

Answer 3

QUALY = quality of life x survival years

Question 4

What is a DALYs?

Answer 4

Disability adjusted life years

Question 5

What is 1 DALY?

Answer 5

1 year in perfect health lost

Question 6

What is economic efficiency? (previous Q)

Answer 6

When resources are allocated between activities in such a way as to maximise benefit

Question 7

What is opportunity cost? (previous Q)

Answer 7

To spend resources on one activity (e.g. heart transplants) means a sacrifice in terms of a lost opportunity cost elsewhere (e.g. fewer hip replacements)

i.e. The sacrifice in terms of the benefits forgone from not allocating resources to next best activity

Question 8

What is equality?

Answer 8

Everyone is treated equally

Question 9

What is equity?

Answer 9

Fairness or justice of the distribution of costs and benefits of resources (based on need)

Question 10

What is horizontal equity?

Answer 10

equal treatment for equal need (e.g. all those with pneumonia treated the same)

Question 11

What is vertical equity?

Answer 11

Unequal treatment for unequal need (e.g. those with pneumonia treated differently to those with a common cold)

Question 12

In terms of health economics what is the problem with improving equity?

Answer 12

There is a decrease in efficiency (e.g. if rare diseases and their expensive Tx’s are funded for then there is less money to be allocated to much more common things to benefit more people)

Question 13

4 types of economic evaluation (previous Q)

Answer 13

Cost-effectiveness analysis (measured in natural units)

Cost-utility analysis (Measured in QALYs)

Cost-benefit analysis (measured in monetary units)

Cost-minimisation analysis - i.e. outcomes same for both alternatives so just minimise the cost

Question 14

What 3 things is required for a DOLS?

Answer 14

The person lacks capacity

The person is not free to leave

The person is under continuous supervision + control

Question 15

What does DOLS ensure?

Answer 15

Ensures the safety and prevention of harm for those in hospital/care homes who don’t have capacity

Question 16

What is the term when treatment is given elsewhere and benefit foregone other patients? (e.g. Someone else loses out because a patient gets the expensive cancer drug)

Answer 16

Opportunity cost