Resources Repository
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ReviewPublication 2021Considerations for Diagnostic COVID-19 Tests
During the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a rush by numerous diagnostic …
During the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a rush by numerous diagnostic test manufacturers to create, validate, and implement testing methods. This review discusses the pivotal role of diagnostic tests during the pandemic's first global wave, highlighting the challenges in technology and implementation experienced early on. The study also offers insights for enhancing the use of diagnostics, especially syndromic ones, should there be future spikes or regional outbreaks of COVID-19. The overarching…
North America | Test Performance | Infectious Diseases | Clinical Care | Health/Medicine | Science/Technology -
ReviewPublication 2022Rapid, Point-of-Care Antigen Tests for Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection
This study reviewed the diagnostic accuracy of rapid, point-of-care antigen tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection, …
This study reviewed the diagnostic accuracy of rapid, point-of-care antigen tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection, differentiating results between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Using data from 155 study cohorts, the study found that the sensitivity of antigen tests was generally higher for symptomatic individuals, especially during the first week after symptom onset, due to higher viral loads. For example, average sensitivity was higher in symptomatic (73.0%) compared to asymptomatic participants (54.7). Average sensitivity was higher in…
North America | Test Performance | Infectious Diseases | Clinical Care | Health/Medicine | Science/Technology -
ReviewPublication 2022Significance of Advanced COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing in Pandemic Control Measures
Over the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the scientific community has mounted significant …
Over the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the scientific community has mounted significant efforts to combat the highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 virus. Despite substantial progress in vaccines and treatments, leading to lower hospitalization and death rates, the virus has continued to evolve, primarily through mutations. From the onset, diagnostic tests have been crucial in identifying and controlling the virus spread. The scientific world has pioneered various diagnostic techniques, including nucleic acid, antigen, and antibody-based…
North America | Test Performance | Infectious Diseases | Health Systems | Clinical Care | Health/Medicine | Science/Technology -
ReviewPublication 2022Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations of COVID-19 Interventions: Non-Health Impacts and Distributional Issues
The authors conducted a systematic review of economic evaluations of COVID-19 interventions and assessed whether …
The authors conducted a systematic review of economic evaluations of COVID-19 interventions and assessed whether they incorporated non-health impacts and distributional concerns. Among the 70 articles included, more than half (56%) included at least one non-health impact, although only 21% incorporated non-economic consequences. Only 17% examined subgroups of interest. The median ICER for the entire sample was $67,000/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) (interquartile range [IQR] $9000-$893,000/QALY). Interventions including a pharmaceutical component yielded a median ICER of $93,000/QALY (IQR…
North America | Evidence Synthesis | Cost-Effectiveness Analysis | Infectious Diseases | Social Determinants | Culture/Society | Economics/Finance | Health/Medicine -
ReviewPublication 2020Public Health and Online Misinformation: Challenges and Recommendations
The internet has become a popular resource to learn about health and to investigate one's …
The internet has become a popular resource to learn about health and to investigate one's own health condition. However, given the large amount of inaccurate information online, people can easily become misinformed. Individuals have always obtained information from outside the formal health care system, so how has the internet changed people's engagement with health information? This review explores how individuals interact with health misinformation online, whether it be through search, user-generated content, or mobile apps.…
North America | Evidence Synthesis | Social Determinants | Health Systems | Culture/Society | Health/Medicine -
BookPublication 2016Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Health: A Practical Approach, 3rd Edition
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Health provides an introduction to the tools, methods, and procedures used to perform cost-effectiveness research. …
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Health provides an introduction to the tools, methods, and procedures used to perform cost-effectiveness research. This third edition contains new discussion on meta-analysis and advanced modeling techniques, a worked example using visual modeling software TreeAge Pro, and updated recommendations from the U.S. Public Health Service's Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine. The book provides process-specific instruction in a concise, structured format to highlight common methods and techniques for: 1) Developing a thoroughly fleshed-out research project; 2) Working…
North America | Evidence Synthesis | Preferences/Values | Costing Methods | Health Outcomes | Cost-Effectiveness Analysis | Technology Assessment | Health Systems | Policy/Regulation | Economics/Finance | Health/Medicine -
BookPublication 2015Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes, 4th Edition
The 2015 edition of Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes provides a …
The 2015 edition of Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes provides a 'tool kit' for undertaking health economic evaluations. The report is aimed at researchers, health service professionals and policy makers without a formal economics background. The recommendations are based on the authors' own experiences and so are practical in nature. The book describes the challenges of allocating resources efficiently and fairly, including challenges in methodology and policy formation. Examples are provided.…
North America | Evidence Synthesis | Preferences/Values | Priority Setting/Ethics | Costing Methods | Health Outcomes | Value of Information | Mathematical Models | Benefit-Cost Analysis | Cost-Effectiveness Analysis | Economics/Finance | Health/Medicine | Science/Technology | Global | Europe -
ReviewPublication 2015Economic Evaluation of Diet and Physical Activity to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes: Systematic Review
Studies indicate that combined diet and physical activity promotion programs can prevent type 2 diabetes …
Studies indicate that combined diet and physical activity promotion programs can prevent type 2 diabetes among persons at increased risk. This paper systematically evaluates the evidence on cost, cost-effectiveness, and cost–benefit estimates of diet and physical activity promotion programs. English-language studies from high-income countries that provided data on cost, cost-effectiveness, or cost–benefit ratios of diet and physical activity promotion programs with at least 2 sessions over at least 3 months delivered to persons at increased risk…
North America | Evidence Synthesis | Cost-Effectiveness Analysis | Child/Nutrition | Chronic Disease/Risk | Social Determinants | Health Systems | Food/Agriculture | Health/Medicine | Europe | Asia & Pacific -
BookPublication 2014Decision Making in Health and Medicine: Integrating Evidence and Values
Decision making in health care involves consideration of a complex set of diagnostic, therapeutic and …
Decision making in health care involves consideration of a complex set of diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic uncertainties. Medical therapies have side effects, surgical interventions may lead to complications, and diagnostic tests can produce misleading results. Furthermore, patient values and service costs must be considered. Decisions in clinical and health policy require careful weighing of risks and benefits and are commonly a trade-off of competing objectives: maximizing quality of life vs maximizing life expectancy vs minimizing…
North America | Test Performance | Probability/Bayes | Preferences/Values | Costing Methods | Health Outcomes | Value of Information | Mathematical Models | Decision Analysis | Cost-Effectiveness Analysis | Health Systems | Economics/Finance | Government/Law | Health/Medicine | Global | Europe | Graduate | Doctoral | Professional | Critical Thinking/Analysis | Decision Making/Leadership | Quantitative Literacy