Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/285156 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Citation: 
[Journal:] Health Economics Review [ISSN:] 2191-1991 [Volume:] 10 [Issue:] 3 [Year:] 2020 [Pages:] 1-11
Publisher: 
Springer, Heidelberg
Abstract: 
Background: Compared with conventional top down costing, micro-costing may provide a more accurate method of resource-use assessment in economic analyses of surgical interventions, but little is known about its current use. The aim of this study was to systematically-review the use of micro-costing in surgery. Methods: Comprehensive searches identified complete papers, published in English reporting micro-costing of surgical interventions up to and including 22nd June 2018. Studies were critically appraised using a modified version of the Consensus on Health Economic Criteria (CHEC) Checklist. Study demographics and details of resources identified; methods for measuring and valuing identified resources and any cost-drivers identified in each study were summarised. Results: A total of 85 papers were identified. Included studies were mainly observational comparative studies (n = 42, 49.4%) with few conducted in the context of a randomised trial (n = 5, 5.9%). The majority of studies were single-centre (n = 66, 77.6%) and almost half (n = 40, 47.1%) collected data retrospectively. Only half (n = 46, 54.1%) self-identified as being 'micro-costing' studies. Rationale for the use of micro-costing was most commonly to compare procedures/techniques/processes but over a third were conducted specifically to accurately assess costs and/or identify cost-drivers. The most commonly included resources were personnel costs (n = 76, 89.4%); materials/disposables (n = 76, 89.4%) and operating-room costs (n = 62,72.9%). No single resource was included in all studies. Most studies (n = 72, 84.7%) identified key cost-drivers for their interventions. Conclusions: There is lack of consistency regarding the current use of micro-costing in surgery. Standardising terminology and focusing on identifying and accurately costing key cost-drivers may improve the quality and value of micro-costing in future studies. Trial registration: PROSPERO registration CRD42018099604.
Subjects: 
Micro-costing
Economic evaluation
Surgery
Systematic review
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
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Document Type: 
Article

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