Cost-effectiveness analysis

Slovak term: Slovenský termín

1. A form of economic evaluation where all the costs are expressed in money terms but where some of the effects are expressed in physical units (e.g. in the context of health care programmes : life-years gained, cases detected) (WHO et al. 1996).
2. See also : economic evaluation

Explanation

Cost-effectiveness analysis is normally used to compare different ways of achieving the same objective (e.g. life saving) and assumes the objective is worth achieving. If two programmes have effects that are identical in all respects, the analysis is sometimes called a cost minimization analysis. If effects are measured in quality-adjusted life-years or "utilities", the analysis is sometimes called cost-utility analysis. Since the 1993 World Bank report "Investing in Health" the Disability-adjusted Life-Year (DALY) has gained in importance as an effectiveness indicator (WHO 2009).

See disability-adjusted life-year or DALY

References

• WHO, FAO, UNEP and UNCHS (1996) [http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/resources/agridev/en/index.html Agricultural Development and Vector-borne Diseases: Training and Information Materials on Vector Biology and Control, Slide Set Series
• WHO (2009) Health impact assessment glossary: E-learning modules

Links

• WHO — The Health and Environment Lexicon
• Quantifying environmental health impacts web site