Expert review of pharmacoeconomics & outcomes research
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Jun 2012
ReviewPersonalized medicine policy challenges: measuring clinical utility at point of care.
Pharmacogenomics, driven by advances in genomics, helps to explain patients' individual variability in response to therapies. Personalized medicine, the application of the increasing understanding of pharmacogenomics, and information technology are intertwined from discovery to delivery at point of care, through to tracking clinical outcomes. ⋯ Assessments need to be consistent across case studies. Standardizing specifications for case studies will better inform policy-makers performing economic evaluations on the use of personalized medicine.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Apr 2012
Comparative StudyComparison of the EORTC QLQ-BM22 and the FACT-BP for assessment of quality of life in cancer patients with bone metastases.
Maintenance or improvement in quality of life (QoL) is the main goal of palliative treatments for bone metastases. Validated and comprehensive tools assessing QoL for specific patient subgroups are required in order to accurately assess and make informed decisions about palliative treatments. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire for patients with bone metastases (QLQ-BM22) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Quality of Life Measurement in patients with bone pain (FACT-BP) are the only two palliative QoL tools available that have been validated for use specifically for bone metastases patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the development and characteristics of these two tools, as well as their current use in palliative research. ⋯ Both the QLQ-BM22 and FACT-BP are designed for assessment of QoL issues specific to cancer patients with bone metastases. Each instrument has unique strengths and weaknesses and choice between these tools is dependent on the investigator and study needs.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Apr 2012
Projected referral to other healthcare services in an outpatient palliative radiotherapy clinic.
To investigate the projected referral to other healthcare services in an outpatient palliative radiotherapy clinic. ⋯ Cancer symptoms are complex, and a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach should be taken to provide timely management and maintain patients' quality of life.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Dec 2011
ReviewCost-effectiveness of insulin detemir: a systematic review.
The prevalence of diabetes and cost of associated treatment are steadily increasing, as is the resulting burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Current treatment recommendations for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes advise a prominent role for basal insulin. ⋯ Those that did not find IDet to be cost effective set the disutility of hypoglycemic events to almost zero or assumed a higher dose of IDet with no difference in treatment effect, ignoring the clinical benefits and cost savings associated with IDet in studies demonstrating comparable or superior glycemic control with less hypoglycemia versus other basal insulins. The evidence suggests that IDet is cost effective versus neutral protamine Hagedorn and at least as cost effective as insulin glargine in the treatment of patients with suboptimally controlled Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Dec 2011
ReviewThe impact of reference-pricing systems in Europe: a literature review and case studies.
As healthcare budgets are continuously rising in Europe, governments implement a wide variety of policies to control them. Reference pricing is a popular tool for governments to contain pharmaceutical expenditures, as 22 European countries have implemented this system. This article evaluates the impact of reference-pricing systems on drug use, drug prices, drug expenditure and health outcomes. ⋯ Reference pricing drives down prices of drugs subject to the system and the use of these drugs has increased. Reference pricing creates short-term savings but the long-term growth of drug expenditure has not been reduced by reference pricing. Health outcomes of patients were not negatively affected by the system.