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Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in... Dec 2015Biomedicine has made enormous progress in the last half century in treating common diseases. However, we are becoming victims of our own success. Causes of death... (Review)
Review
Biomedicine has made enormous progress in the last half century in treating common diseases. However, we are becoming victims of our own success. Causes of death strongly associated with biological aging, such as heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke-cluster within individuals as they grow older. These conditions increase frailty and limit the benefits of continued, disease-specific improvements. Here, we show that a "delayed-aging" scenario, modeled on the biological benefits observed in the most promising animal models, could solve this problem of competing risks. The economic value of delayed aging is estimated to be $7.1 trillion over 50 years. Total government costs, including Social Security, rise substantially with delayed aging--mainly caused by longevity increases--but we show that these can be offset by modest policy changes. Expanded biomedical research to delay aging appears to be a highly efficient way to forestall disease and extend healthy life.
Topics: Aged; Aging; Cost of Illness; Economics, Medical; Forecasting; Health Expenditures; Humans; Insurance, Health; Life Expectancy; Longevity; Medicare; United States; Value of Life
PubMed: 26684333
DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a025072 -
Journal of Comparative Effectiveness... Jul 2016
Topics: Curriculum; Economics, Medical; Education, Medical
PubMed: 27331631
DOI: 10.2217/cer-2016-0028 -
PharmacoEconomics Feb 2023Some researchers have argued that the aim of an economic evaluation should be to offer guidance on resource allocation based on public interest from a societal... (Review)
Review
Some researchers have argued that the aim of an economic evaluation should be to offer guidance on resource allocation based on public interest from a societal perspective. The application of a societal perspective in health technology assessment (HTA), while common in many published studies, is not mandated in most countries, and there is limited discussion on what the societal perspective should encompass. This study aimed to systematically compare and contrast the HTA guidelines in different countries. HTA methods guidelines were identified through international HTA networks, such as the Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) and Guide to Economic Analysis Research (GEAR). The respective HTA agencies were grouped into two categories: well-established and newly developed, based on the establishment date. Data extracted from the guidelines summarised the methodological details in the reference cases, including specifics on the societal perspective. The database search yielded 46 guidelines, and 65% explicitly considered the societal perspective. The maturity of these agencies is reflected in their attitudes towards the societal perspective; the societal perspective is defined in 73% of the guidelines of well-established agencies and only 56% of those of newly developed agencies. The guidelines from multipayer healthcare systems are more likely to consider the societal perspective. Although most guidelines from the well-established agencies recommend the inclusion of a societal perspective, the types of costs and consequences that should be included and the recommended approaches to valuing them are variable. The direct costs to family and carers were included in 73% of the societal perspective definitions, while non-health outcomes were considered in only 40%. Most HTA guidelines lack clear guidance on what to include under specific perspectives. Considering the recent advancements in economic evaluation methods, it is timely to rethink the role of the societal perspective in HTA guidelines and adopt a more comprehensive perspective to include all costs and consequences of healthcare services.
Topics: Humans; Technology Assessment, Biomedical; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Economics, Medical; Delivery of Health Care
PubMed: 36471131
DOI: 10.1007/s40273-022-01221-y -
Social Science & Medicine (1982) May 2020Modelling is a major method of inquiry in health economics. In other modelling-intensive fields, such as climate science, recent scholarship has described how social and...
Modelling is a major method of inquiry in health economics. In other modelling-intensive fields, such as climate science, recent scholarship has described how social and ethical values influence model development. However, no similar work has been done in health economics. This study explored the role of social, ethical, and other values in health economics modelling using philosophical theory and qualitative interviews in British Columbia, Canada. Twenty-two professionals working in health economics modelling were interviewed between February and May, 2019. The study findings provide support for four philosophical arguments positing an essential role for social and ethical values throughout scientific inquiry and demonstrate how these arguments apply to health economics modelling. It highlights the role of social values in informing early modelling decisions, shaping model assumptions, making trade-offs between desirable model features, and setting standards of evidence. These results point to several decisions in the modelling process that warrant focus in future health economics research, particularly that which aims to incorporate patient and public values.
Topics: British Columbia; Economics; Economics, Medical; Humans; Judgment; Morals; Social Values
PubMed: 32289648
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.112975 -
Singapore Medical Journal Jan 2018
Topics: Biotechnology; Economics, Medical; Health Care Costs; Health Services Research; Humans; International Cooperation; Medical Tourism; Medicine; Public Sector; Quality of Health Care; Regional Medical Programs; Research; Singapore
PubMed: 29376185
DOI: 10.11622/smedj.2018004 -
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.... Apr 2016The Institute of Medicine considers limited health literacy a "silent epidemic," as approximately half of Americans lack the competencies necessary for making informed... (Review)
Review
The Institute of Medicine considers limited health literacy a "silent epidemic," as approximately half of Americans lack the competencies necessary for making informed decisions regarding their health. Limited health literacy substantially impedes the effective dissemination and comprehension of relevant health information, and also complicates communication, compromises care, and leads to worse patient outcomes. Poor health, early death, and worse control of chronic conditions have also been associated with limited health literacy. Unfortunately, physicians often struggle to identify those with limited health literacy, which can have adverse effects on the physician-patient relationship. In this article, we discuss the meaning of health literacy,the risk factors for and consequences of limited health literacy, orthopaedic-specific implications and investigations, and the strategies orthopaedic surgeons can utilize to improve health literacy and communication.
Topics: Communication; Cultural Deprivation; Demography; Economics, Medical; Health Literacy; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Orthopedics; Patients; Physician-Patient Relations; Societies, Medical; Surveys and Questionnaires; United States
PubMed: 27053590
DOI: 10.2106/JBJS.O.00718 -
Journal of the National Cancer... Jul 2022Cancer displays some of the largest health-equity concerns of all diseases. This paper draws attention to how health economics research can assess strategies to reduce...
Cancer displays some of the largest health-equity concerns of all diseases. This paper draws attention to how health economics research can assess strategies to reduce or even eliminate health disparities and provides pivotal examples of existing research as well as areas for future contributions. The paper also highlights critical data limitations that currently restrain the impact health economics research could have. We then explore new areas of inquiry where economic research is sparse but could have an important impact on health equity, particularly in topics involving Medicare and Medicaid policies that expand reimbursement and generosity of coverage. Health economics studies are notably absent from policies and practices surrounding clinical trials, representing an opportunity for future research. We urge health economics researchers to consider experiments, interventions, and assessments through primary data collection; we further encourage the formulation of multidisciplinary teams to ensure that health economics skills are well melded with other areas of expertise. These teams are needed to maximize novelty and rigor of evidence. As policies are promulgated to address disparities in cancer, involvement of economics in a multidisciplinary context can help ensure that these policies do not have unintended impacts that may deepen inequities.
Topics: Aged; Economics, Medical; Health Equity; Humans; Medicare; Neoplasms; Policy; Research; United States
PubMed: 35788369
DOI: 10.1093/jncimonographs/lgab018 -
Archives of Iranian Medicine Nov 2017During the last 3 decades, Iran has experienced a rapid population growth and at the same time the health of Iranian people has improved greatly. This achievement was... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
During the last 3 decades, Iran has experienced a rapid population growth and at the same time the health of Iranian people has improved greatly. This achievement was mainly due to training and availability of health manpower, well organized public health network and medical science and research improvement. In this article, we aimed to report the relevant data about the medical science and research situation in Iran and compare them with other countries.
METHODS
In this study, after reviewing science development and research indicators in medical sciences with participation of key stakeholders, we selected 3 main hybrid indexes consisting of "Research and Development (R&D) expenditures," "Personnel in Science and Technology sector" and "knowledge generation" for evaluation of medical science and research situation. Data was extracted from reliable databases.
RESULTS
Over the past decade, Iran has achieved significant success in medical sciences and for the first time in 2015 based on Scopus index, Iran ranked first in the number of published scientific papers and number of citations in the region and among all Islamic countries. Also, 2% of the world's publications belong to Iran. Regarding innovation, the number of Iranian patents submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) was 3 and 43 in 2008 and 2013, respectively. In these years, the number of personnel in science and technology sectors including post graduate students, researchers and academic members in universities of medical sciences (UMSs) have increased. The female students in medical sciences field account for about twothirds of all students. Also, women comprise about one-third of faculty members. Since 5 years ago, Iran has had growth in science and technology parks. These achievements were attained in spite of the fact that research spending in Iran was still very low (0.5% of gross domestic product [GDP]) due to economic hardships and sanctions.
CONCLUSION
Medical science and research development has been at least partially due to health technological development, training and availability of health manpower and improvement of overall health status in Iran compared to other Islamic countries.
Topics: Biomedical Research; Cross-Sectional Studies; Economics, Medical; Gross Domestic Product; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Iran; Physicians; Publications; Workforce
PubMed: 29480730
DOI: No ID Found -
BMC Health Services Research Aug 2023We explored the impact of medical service fee adjustments on the choice of medical treatment for hypertensive patients in Beijing. We hope to provide decision-making...
BACKGROUND
We explored the impact of medical service fee adjustments on the choice of medical treatment for hypertensive patients in Beijing. We hope to provide decision-making reference to promote the realization of hierarchical diagnosis and treatment in Beijing.
METHODS
According to the framework of modeling simulation research and based on the data of residents and medical institutions in Beijing, we designed three models of residents model, disease model and hospital model respectively. We then constructed a state map of patients' selection of medical treatment and adjusted the medical service fee to observe outpatient selection behaviors of hypertensive patients at different levels of hospitals and to find the optimal decision-making plan.
RESULTS
The simulation results show that the adjustment of medical service fees can affect the proportion of patients seeking medical treatment in primary and tertiary hospitals to a certain extent, but has little effect on the proportion of patients receiving medical treatment in secondary hospitals.
CONCLUSIONS
Beijing can make adjustments of the current medical service fees by reducing fees in primary hospitals and slightly increasing fees in tertiary hospitals, and in this way could increase the number of patients with hypertension in the primary hospitals.
Topics: Fee-for-Service Plans; Humans; Systems Analysis; Hypertension; Beijing; Fees, Medical; Computer Simulation
PubMed: 37649036
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09933-3 -
Annals of Emergency Medicine Sep 2016
Topics: Attitude of Health Personnel; Economics, Medical; Emergency Medical Services; Fees, Medical; Humans; Reimbursement Mechanisms; United States
PubMed: 27568434
DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2016.06.034