Evidence-based Health Economics

This title discusses systematic review in economic analysis. It provides case histories to show how economic evaluations work in the clinical setting and shows how to do evidence-based analyses and how economics can be used to broaden the evidence-base for health policy. Evidence-based clinical practice isolated from economic issues is not a realistic goal. Furthermore, narrow evidence-based medicine methodologies may lead to an inefficient health policy and greater inequalities in health. 'Evidence-based Health Economics' recognises these issues and has brought together some of the world's leading thinkers and practitioners of economic evaluation in health care, all of whom have been involved with the 'evidence-based movement', as participants, critics or both. These experts demonstrate not only the need for the use of evidence-based principles in economic evaluation but also that such principles should themselves be based on health economics. Case studies are outlined which show how to bring economic evaluation and systematic review together and how to use such evaluations in the clinical setting.