Introductory description

This is a separate but closely related module to Introduction to Health Economics (for non economist) (MD990) 20 CAT module.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The syllabus will include the following sections:
Economics applied to health and health care

• An overview of key concepts in economic theory and their application in health care.
  Health care systems – economic considerations.
• An overview of alternative approaches to funding and providing health care, and a discussion about the degree to which different systems achieve key objectives, such as basic coverage, efficiency and equitable access.
  Conducting and appraising economic evaluations
• An overview of the principles of economic evaluation and the methods used to measure and value costs and benefits of health care.
  Decision modelling and representations of uncertainty in economic evaluation.
• An overview of the need for modelling in economic evaluation, the methods used for economic models, and how decision uncertainty is presented in economic evaluation.
  Use of economic evaluation findings to inform policy making
• An overview of the role, extent and mechanisms though which results of economic evaluation are used to inform decision making in health care.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• The module will enable students to:- Acquire and demonstrate an understanding of key economic concepts (such as opportunity cost, efficiency, marginal analysis)- Identify approaches and examples of policies countries use in healthcare policy-making. - Acquire and demonstrate an understanding of the methods underpinning economic evaluation in health care, and become aware of key aspects of good practice in undertaking and reporting an economic evaluation.

Indicative reading list

Key course textbooks:

• Morris S, Devlin S, Parkin D and Spencer A. Economic analysis in health care. 2nd ed. London: Wiley, 2012.
• Drummond M, Sculpher M, Claxton K, Stoddard G, Torrence G. Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes. 3rd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Further reading:

• Folland S, Goodman A, Stano M. The Economics of Health and Health Care, 7th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2014.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Research element

Research elements include:

• Engagement with existing research through lectures and practical sessions
• Student self directed research for tasks related to post module assessment (e.g. critical appraisal of published evidence)

Interdisciplinary

The module and its learning objectives draw on theory, examples and case studies from economics, health sciences, public policy.

International

In addition to discussing relevant aspects of health economics within the content of the National Health Service in the UK, the module identifies and discusses practice in other countries. For example, the lectures Funding Health Care across the World and Government Intervention in Health Care look at health care systems in both developing and developed countries (e.g. US, Germany, Japan, Kenya, Nigeria).

Subject specific skills

The module will provide the following subject-specific skills

• Understanding of key economic concepts (such as opportunity cost, efficiency, marginal analysis)
• Understanding of approaches to, and examples of, policy making in healthcare policy making.
• Understanding of the methods underpinning economic evaluation in health care, and become aware of key aspects of good practice in undertaking and reporting an economic evaluation.

Transferable skills

The module will offer students the opportunity to acquire the following transferrable skills

• Effective communication of thoughts, ideas, questions, concepts and findings.
• Effective collaboration with fellow students towards a given task
• Identification of relevant sources of information, and ability to summarise and critically appraise existing evidence.
• Ability to work as part of a team, respecting colleagues’ values and opinions
• Ability to work independently when needed, and to engage in and take responsibility for further learning.