PUB HLTH 7085 - Applied Health Economic Evaluation Research Project

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2015

Applied Health Economic Evaluation Research Project is designed to provide students with the opportunity to apply the components of health economic evaluation in detail, in the context of an applied evaluation that is completed in full, from specification of the research question to the drafting of a journal manuscript. The course builds on the Health Economic Evaluation and Decision Making (PubHlth 7082), which provides the background and theory to each of the components of a health economic evaluation. Students are provided with relevant materials and instruction relating to the review of background material, the specification of an appropriate model structure, estimation of disease progression and treatment effect parameter values, conduct of a quality of life study, analysis of resource use and cost data, consideration of outcomes other than quality adjusted life years, and the analysis and representation of uncertainty of the finished model. On course completion, students will have practical experience in the conduct of health economic evaluation which will cement the knowledge gained in the existing HEEDM course and provide the basis for conducting independent evaluations in a wide range of employment settings (e.g. government, NGO, industry, academia).

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Course Details

Course Code	PUB HLTH 7085
Course	Applied Health Economic Evaluation Research Project
Coordinating Unit	Public Health
Term	Semester 2
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	6
Contact	Up to 5 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	N
Prerequisites	PubHlth 7081, PubHlth 7082, ECON 7001, ECON 7220
Restrictions	Master of Health Economics and Policy
Assessment	Short reports and drafted journal manuscript

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Adjunct Professor Jonathan Karnon

Course Coordinator: Prof Jon Karnon
Phone: +61 8313 3562
Email: jonathan.karnon@adelaide.edu.au
Location: Level 7, 178 North Terrace

Learning and Teaching Team
Phone: +61 8313 2128
Email: postgrad_enq@adelaide.edu.au
Location: Level 7, 178 North Terrace

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

1	Experience in the practical application of health economic evaluation
2	Literature reviewing of published economic studies, and to identify relevant clinical data
3	Design and application of a quality of life (QoL) study to collect relevant data
4	Extraction of relevant cost data from routine data sources
5	Statistical analysis of clinical, QoL, and cost data
6	Development and population of a decision analytic model as the framework for the economic evaluation
7	Analysis of model, including sensitivity analyses
8	Assess factors others than costs and QALYs that may influence funding decisions
9	Reporting of results of analysis

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised.	3,6,7
The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner.	2,4,5
An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems.	6,7
Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication.	9
A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies.	3,6,7
A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life.	1
A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community.	1
An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities.	8

Learning Resources

Required Resources

The new Applied Health Economic Evaluation Research Project course builds on the skills gained in the existing course Health Economic Evaluation and Decision Making (HEEDM) (PubHlth 7082), leading to the completion of an applied research project. HEEDM takes students through the theory of the elements of health economic evaluation, with short practicals. The aim of the research project course is to provide students with an opportunity to apply the elements in more detail, and with more independence.

Each student will be assigned a health care intervention to evaluate. Students will be instructed on how to search for, and review the literature relevant to their assigned evaluation. These elements include the estimation of the clinical and quality of life parameters. For the cost elements, relevant data, and data sources will be provided. A longitudinal dataset will be provided for analysis by students, and data sources for unit cost parameters will be provided.

Checklist papers for reporting the results of health economic evaluations will be also be provided.

Recommended Resources

J Brazier, J Ratcliffe, J Salomon, A Tsuchiya, Measuring and Valuing Health Benefits for Economic Evaluation, 2007, ISBN10: 0198569823: Oxford University Press

A Briggs, M Sculpher, K Claxton, Decision Modelling for Health Economic Evaluation, 2006, ISBN10: 0198526628. Oxford University Press

M Drummond, M Sculpher, G Torrence, B O'Brien, G Stoddart, Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes (3rd Edition) 2005; ISBN10: 0198529453: Oxford University Press

Online Learning

Refer to MyUni
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

The new Applied Health Economic Evaluation Research Project 6 unit course will build on the skills students obtained in the existing HEEDM 3 unit course. As the existing HEEDM course completes its coverage of each element of health economic evaluation, students enrolled Research Project course will be provided with relevant materials or data sources relating to that element. Students will then undertake the necessary tasks to complete the estimation/analysis of that element in the context of their chosen case study evaluation.

The course is one where independent research is undertaken with the guidance of a supervisor. During the course, students will participate in a 2 to 3 hour weekly group session that will provide general and specific guidance on the research tasks to be undertaken.

Additionally, students will be allocated an Academic Advisor who has expertise in the topic selected by the student. Students can access this Advisor 2-3 times throughout the course (2 hours each). These Advisors will be sourced from within and outside the University (e.g. using health economists based at Flinders University and UniSA, where research interests coincide).

In between formal teaching sessions, discussion via MyUni between students, and with the course co-ordinator, will be encouraged to address roadblocks to the application of the evaluation elements as and when they occur.

The Research Projects course is only to be offered to Masters of Health Economics and Policy students.

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

Up to 5 hours per week

Learning Activities Summary

The existing HEEDM course includes the following learning activities:

1.    Rationale for economic evaluation to inform decision making in health
2.    Principles and theory relating to the components of an economic evaluation in health
3.    Examples of the application of economic evaluation to decision making in health

In addition, the weekly group sessions for the Research Project course will provide additional practical sessions on the following topics:

4.    Conducting a background review and Developing a research question
5.    Defining a model structure for health economic evaluation
6.    Populating the baseline clinical parameters and estimates of treatment effect
7.    Conducting a quality of life study to inform health state utilities
8.    Analysing cost data
9.    Building model and undertaking base case analyses
10. Handling uncertainty – sensitivity analysis
11. Assessing equity factors – outcomes other than QALYs
12. Reporting – in the form of a journal manuscript

Specific Course Requirements

N/A

Small Group Discovery Experience

N/A

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Weighting	Learning course objective(s) being addressed
Short report on selected evaluation framework	Summative	15%	2,4,5
Short report on methods and analysis of clinical data (disease progression and treatment effect data)	Summative	15%	3,6
Short report on methods and analysis of cost and outcomes data	Summative	15%	7,8,11
Implemented cost-effectiveness model	Summative	25%	9,10
Manuscript in format of journal submission	Summative	30%	1,2,12

Assessment Related Requirements

N/A

Assessment Detail

The course has three assessment points: short reports on the elements of the applied economic model, development of the
model and the final report based on the analysis of the model.

Short reports (3 x 1000 words) on each of the following elements of an applied economic evaluation to be undertaken by each student: (15% each)

Evaluation framework
This report will cover the process of selecting and developing an appropriate modelling technique as the framework for their applied evaluation. Elements of the report include:

The results of a summary review of the literature to identify an appropriate model structure,

The identification of key events or health states associated with the progression of the condition (or disease) to which the evaluation is being applied (i.e. for which alternative technologies are being evaluated),

A description of the assumptions around disease progression that are reflected in the model structure (i.e. all models are simplifications of reality) and justifications for those assumptions.

Estimation of Clinical parameters
This report will cover the process of identifying and analysing relevant cost data for their applied evaluation. Elements of the report include:

A listing of all the clinical parameters to be estimated,

A description of the data sources to be used to populate the clinical parameters (students will be provided with relevant clinical data, after the submission of the first short report, i.e. the structure defined in report 1 may be adjusted to fit the available data),

The methods and results of analyses of the data to populate the clinical parameters.

Measurement of costs and outcomes
This report will cover the process of generating appropriate measures of outcome for their applied evaluation. In most cases, this will involve the collection of utility data, reflecting the health-related quality of life that patients experience as their disease progresses. Elements of the report include:

A summary review of the existing literature on existing cost, cost-effectiveness, utility and quality of life studies in the relevant disease area,

The methods (e.g. design and application) and results of a pilot utility study to generate utility weights for the relevant events and health states included in the model structure,

The identified resource and cost parameter values required to populate the model.

Model: A developed, populated, and analysed (spread sheet-based) decision analytic model.(25%)

Report: A draft manuscript reporting the results of each student’s applied economic evaluation (30%)

Submission

The short and final report components of the course assessment are to be handed in as hard copies. The model component will be submitted as an Excel spread sheet.

Requests for extensions will be considered, though extensions will be discouraged due to the sequential nature of the assessment process.

Marks, with comments relating to amendments that might be required, will be provided within two weeks, so as to inform the subsequent components of the assessment process.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator