Co-Leads: Nick Bansback
& David Whitehurst
Health economics is a field of study concerned with the connections between health and the resources needed to promote health (e.g., time, people, money and equipment). Because resources are limited, choices need to be made and priorities need to be identified.
By applying economic theories of demand, supply, and social choice, health economics aims to understand the behaviours of decision makers, whether that be individuals, households, health care providers, organizations or governments.
Consulting with researchers, policy makers, and practitioners, this Cluster:
Browse the priorities and projects below, or use the interactive diagram to the right.
Browse the priorities and projects below.
*The Health Economics and Simulation Modelling cluster identified ‘themes’ rather than ‘priorities,’ but we refer to priorities herein to keep terms consistent across our website.
Co-Lead
David Whitehurst
Co-Lead
Nick Bansback
Co-Lead
David Whitehurst
Co-Lead
Nick Bansback
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This project will develop guidelines on which methods can be used to ensure routinely collected health data (e.g., administrative data; PROMs) can answer important questions in an era of increasing costs and difficult funding decisions.
Health resource allocation in BC needs more input from rural and remote communities.
This project aimed to connect health economists, predominantly based in the Lower Mainland, and communities in rural and remote BC using innovative research methods such as photovoice.
More and more, healthcare decisions are being informed by scientific computer models.
Our research team The Peer Models Network is passionate about computer modelling—and passionate about engaging patients and members of the public!
This project developed a detailed tool, in the form of a series of questions, to guide a research team on how, when, and where members of the public can best be engaged in “health technology assessments.”
This project developed a software tool that makes it easier do “social media listening”, an emerging approach to analyzing patient experiences and patient preferences that applies text analysis techniques to social media conversations (e.g., Reddit chat forums).
What are the out-of-pocket costs for rural BC patients seeking health care outside their home community—and how can we measure these costs?
How are decisions made about how Canadian health dollars are spent? A team of researchers, patient partners, and filmmakers are seeking to start a conversation about this.
Most clinical researchers who come up with their ideas do ask others if it’s a good idea… but the trouble is they ask other clinicians, and not potential patients.
So, we asked patients. What did they want from their treatments?
This study adapted the “Valuation of Lost Productivity” (VOLP) questionnaire for caregivers.
This project designed and tested a Discrete Choice Experiment to measure patient preferences about different aspects of preventative therapies for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Cluster leads, Nick Bansback and David Whitehurst, have been organizing events to build community and training opportunities in the health economics and simulation modelling community.
What are the social value judgements involved in building health economic models?
This project explored how Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) data could improve patients’ adherence to falls prevention recommendations.
Three projects from this Cluster have presented Methods Matters webinars:
“Most clinical researchers who come up with their ideas do ask others if it’s a good idea… but the trouble is they ask other clinicians, and not potential patients.”
So, we asked patients. What did they want from their treatment?
Mark Harrison & Nick Bansback discuss: Rethinking how we design clinical studies
