Guidelines for pharmaco-economic research in relation to published health-economics evaluations

Objective. To investigate whether the health-economics research published in Dutch journals is in agreement with the guidelines for pharmaco-economic research as published in 1999 by the Dutch 'College voor zorgverzekeringen' [Healthcare Insurance Board]. Design. Descriptive.Method. A literature search was performed for health-economic evaluations published during 1990-1999 in Dutch journals such as Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Geneeskunde (NTvG), Pharmaceutisch Weekblad and Tijdschrift voor Gezondheids-wetenschappen. The resulting 19 studies, primarily published in the NTvG, were compared with the pharmaco-economic guidelines, summarised in 9 criteria.Results. The social perspective was taken in 5 studies (26%), non-related medical costs were excluded in 19 (100%), relevant subgroup analyses were performed in 16 (84%), effectiveness was explicitly differentiated from efficacy in 15 (79%), incremental analysis was performed in 18 (95%), an adequate period of analysis was chosen in 16 (84%), costs, benefits and health gains were discounted in 13 (68%), sensitivity analysis was included in the investigation in to (53%), and estimated cost prices were used in 9 (47%).Conclusion. The methodology in recently published Dutch health-economics research was partly in agreement with the later official guidelines for pharmaco-economic studies in the Netherlands.