Introduction
As a practitioner dedicated to providing the best care for your students, it's crucial to stay informed about the latest research and practices. One emerging area of interest is the impact of family and caregiver health spillovers in health economic evaluations. The SHEER Task Force has released a report detailing recommendations for incorporating these spillovers into cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analyses. This blog will explore how you can apply these findings to enhance your practice and encourage further research.
Understanding Health Spillovers
Health spillovers refer to the impact of an individual's health condition on the health and well-being of their family members and caregivers. These effects can be physical, emotional, or psychological and are often overlooked in economic evaluations. The SHEER Task Force emphasizes the importance of including these spillovers to provide a more comprehensive view of healthcare interventions' true value.
Key Recommendations from the SHEER Task Force
The SHEER Task Force report outlines 11 consensus recommendations for emerging good practice. Here are some key takeaways:
- Include health spillovers in economic evaluations conducted from healthcare, societal, or public sector perspectives.
- Consider the distributional consequences of including or omitting health spillovers in analyses.
- Use primary data collection for spillovers where possible, and justify the use of secondary data if necessary.
- Apply equal weighting to patient and spillover health impacts unless evidence suggests otherwise.
- Ensure transparency and consistency in reporting the incorporation of health spillovers.
Implementing the Recommendations in Your Practice
As a practitioner, you can enhance your skills by integrating these recommendations into your evaluations and decision-making processes. Consider the following steps:
- Stay Informed: Attend conferences, webinars, and read publications to keep up with the latest research on health spillovers.
- Network: Engage with other professionals to share insights and experiences related to incorporating health spillovers in practice.
- Advocate for Inclusion: Encourage your institution to consider health spillovers in their evaluations and decision-making processes.
- Conduct Further Research: Explore opportunities to contribute to the growing body of research on health spillovers and their impact on economic evaluations.
Conclusion
Incorporating family and caregiver health spillovers into economic evaluations is an emerging area that can significantly enhance the understanding of healthcare interventions' true value. By following the SHEER Task Force's recommendations, practitioners can improve their practice and contribute to the advancement of this important field. To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Recommendations for Emerging Good Practice and Future Research in Relation to Family and Caregiver Health Spillovers in Health Economic Evaluations: A Report of the SHEER Task Force.
