William G Johnson1. 1. School of Health Management and Policy, Department of Economics, W. P. Carey School of Business, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 874906, Tempe, AZ 85287-4506, USA. William.G.Johnson@asu.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND CONTEXT: There is an extensive literature on the costs of back pain and on cost-based evaluations of the effectiveness of alternative modes of care for back pain. An understanding of the adequacy of a study often requires information that is not part of the experience or training of health-care professionals. The article seeks to provide clinicians with some criteria by which to judge the validity of cost-based evaluations of the treatment and consequences of back pain. PURPOSE: This article is not a comprehensive, critical review of the research literature on the costs of back pain or the relative cost-effectiveness of different methods of care for back pain. It presents, instead, a discussion of some important characteristics of cost-related studies of back pain and some criteria that can be used to evaluate the validity of cost estimates and cost-effectiveness analyses related to back pain. STUDY DESIGN: A guide for the evaluation of cost-based studies of back pain. METHODS: A summary of criteria for the evaluation of the validity of cost-based studies of back pain. RESULTS: Three sets of criteria for evaluation, ranked from most important to least important. CONCLUSIONS: Application of the suggested criteria can enhance the ability of health-care professionals to better understand the limits and relative adequacy of cost-based studies of back pain.
BACKGROUND CONTEXT: There is an extensive literature on the costs of back pain and on cost-based evaluations of the effectiveness of alternative modes of care for back pain. An understanding of the adequacy of a study often requires information that is not part of the experience or training of health-care professionals. The article seeks to provide clinicians with some criteria by which to judge the validity of cost-based evaluations of the treatment and consequences of back pain. PURPOSE: This article is not a comprehensive, critical review of the research literature on the costs of back pain or the relative cost-effectiveness of different methods of care for back pain. It presents, instead, a discussion of some important characteristics of cost-related studies of back pain and some criteria that can be used to evaluate the validity of cost estimates and cost-effectiveness analyses related to back pain. STUDY DESIGN: A guide for the evaluation of cost-based studies of back pain. METHODS: A summary of criteria for the evaluation of the validity of cost-based studies of back pain. RESULTS: Three sets of criteria for evaluation, ranked from most important to least important. CONCLUSIONS: Application of the suggested criteria can enhance the ability of health-care professionals to better understand the limits and relative adequacy of cost-based studies of back pain.
Authors: Rowland G Hazard; Kevin F Spratt; Christine M McDonough; Colleen M Olson; Elizabeth S Ossen; Eric M Hartmann; Raynee J Carlson; Jenna LaVoie Journal: Spine J Date: 2012-10-12 Impact factor: 4.166