Short Course on Economic Evaluation in Health Care 3rd to 5th June

Three day course run by Health Economics Research Group (HERG) in Brunel University London, Uxbridge. This three day course provides an in-depth introduction to methods, techniques and use of economic evaluation in health care for those with no, or little, previous training in health economics. It draws on the extensive experience of the HERG members and the teaching combines formal presentations, group work on case studies and opportunities for one-to-one discussions with the faculty. Early booking is advised and rewarded! If you would like to attend the course please download the registration form and send it back to HERG Admin by email to herg-admin@brunel.ac.uk 

Why should you attend?

There is an increasing need for a wide range of professionals in the health care field to have a firm understanding of economic evaluation methods.

• Health care commissioners and purchasers including PCTs need to interpret economic data to assess the relative costeffectiveness of programmes and interventions.
• Health care providers at all levels need to take account of costeffectiveness in the delivery of health care.
• Clinical and health service researchers are increasingly required to build economic evaluations into their studies.
• NICE, and similar bodies in other countries, require evidence on cost-effectiveness and use it to inform their recommendations. 
• The pharmaceutical and devices industries need to be able to provide evidence on the cost-effectiveness of their technologies.

This three-day course run by the HERG of Brunel University addresses the needs created in all such contexts. 

Who should attend?

Although the course focuses on the UK situation and the requirements of NICE, it has proved relevant and accessible to non-UK participants. Participants on the course require no prior training in health economics. The course covers material of an introductory and intermediate level and provides the foundation for, and references to, more advanced materials and techniques. Potential participants who have previous training, or substantial experience, in this area are advised to contact HERG prior to registering, to discuss the appropriateness of the course content to their ongoing needs.

Aims of the course

To provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary:

• to understand, to review and to use published economic evaluation studies and to be familiar with the key issues in setting up an economic evaluation
• to be able to identify the main data requirements for economic assessment of health care technologies.

To foster a multi-disciplinary environment in which participants from different professional backgrounds and the public and private sectors can interact.

On completion of the course, participants would be expected to be able to: 

• identify the various types of economic evaluation together with their data requirements and informational content. 
• understand the alternative measures of outcome used in economic evaluation, including the concept of quality adjusted life years (QALYs). 
• appreciate the principles and practice involved in undertaking a cost analysis.
• understand the role of trials and of models in economic evaluation.
• appreciate how to deal with uncertainty in economic evaluation. 
• be able to tackle the practical and methodological tasks associated with designing and planning an economic evaluation.
• use cost-effectiveness data, including cost per QALY, to inform policy decisions.

Structure of the course 

The first two days will focus on the basic methods of economic evaluation using presentations and syndicate group work on a pre-prepared case-study. 

• Participants will be provided with prepared case-study material which they will use throughout the first two days. 
• The third day will involve group work with faculty support, working through practical issues related to the design and conduct of a study.
• Participants will have an opportunity to bring their own projects, some of which will be used as the basis of the study design exercise on the third day.
• Participants will be provided with some limited pre-course reading (approximately two weeks prior to the course). The course will involve presentations by members of the teaching faculty, intermixed with small syndicate groups of about six participants each. 
• Participants will be supplied with an extensive course folder including presentations, reading, other sources of information and case-study materials

Course content and Programme*

Teaching Faculty

 Dr Subhash Pokhrel

 Prof Doug Coyle

Dr Nana Anokye

Mr Matthew Glover

Dr Kyriaki Giorgakoudi

Location

The Short Course takes place in the Hamilton Centre at Brunel University London. This is a comfortable and modern conference facility, close to Heathrow and with excellent road and public transport links.

Prices

It is an explicit objective of this course to achieve a good mix of participants, ideally with a balanced representation from the health service and the commercial health care sector. As a university research group funded largely by the public sector, we consider it reasonable to charge a lower price to participants from the public sector than to those from the commercial sector.

Non-residential fee includes:

• Three days course registration
• comprehensive course materials
• tea/coffee
• lunch
• welcome dinner on first day

Early booking discount (by end of day 31st March 2020):

• Public sector £900
• Private sector £1,300

Bookings from  7th October 2019

• Public sector £1,000
• Private sector £1,500

Accommodation

Accommodation is in the Lancaster Lodge at the Brunel University Campus. 

• Two nights in en-suite bedroom
• continental breakfast
• dinner
• WiFi
• use of Spa facilities
• Double bed room £190

Cancellation policy

Cancellation must be made in writing to HERG Admin (herg-admin@brunel.ac.uk), HERG, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH): 
Prior to 30th April 2020: 100% refund.  1st May 2020 or closer to start date: fees must be paid in full. At any time the place can be transferred to a colleague.

If you would like to discuss the suitability of this course for yourself or for colleagues, please contact: Dr Subhash Pokhrel (Subhash.Pokhrel@brunel.ac.uk). For registration queries, please contact HERG Admin (herg-admin@brunel.ac.uk)
We look forward to hearing from you soon.