Analysis, sample size, and power for estimating incremental net health benefit from clinical trial data

Control Clin Trials. 2001 Jun;22(3):228-37. doi: 10.1016/s0197-2456(01)00110-6.

Abstract

Stinnett and Mullahy recently introduced the concept of net health benefit as an alternative to cost-effectiveness ratios for the statistical analysis of patient-level data on the costs and health effects of competing interventions. Net health benefit addresses a number of problems associated with cost-effectiveness ratios by assuming a value for the willingness-to-pay for a unit of effectiveness. We extend the concept of net health benefit to demonstrate that standard statistical procedures can be used for the analysis, power, and sample size determinations of cost-effectiveness data. We also show that by varying the value of the willingness-to-pay, the point estimate and confidence interval for the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio can be determined. An example is provided.

MeSH terms

  • Biometry*
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / economics*
  • Quality-Adjusted Life Years*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic*
  • Sample Size