The performance and publication of cost-utility analyses in plastic surgery: Making our specialty relevant

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Parallel to a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Vertical Scar Reduction and Inverted T–Shaped Reduction Mammaplasty

“…If we assume that there is only one "true cost-effective" technique, the others are indeed wasteful. 30 Thus, to prevent the waste of health care resources and to practice efficiently, we strongly recommend this type of analysis over the modeling methods whenever this is feasible.…”

A Systematic Review of Health State Utility Values in the Plastic Surgery Literature

“…The importance of continuing to conduct and refine HSUV research in the PRS community cannot be understated, as HSUVs are objective means to demonstrate that PRS procedures are impactful. 1 Integrating these values with cost data will help illustrate that the certain interventions are cost-effective when we consider health-related quality of life.…”

“…Economic evaluation research is a crucial element of cost-effective surgical decision-making and the minimization of unnecessary healthcare spending. 1 Although several types of economic evaluation are commonly reported, a major advantage of using cost-utility analyses (CUA) is the assessment of health benefits in terms of patient health states rather than cost alone. 1,2 CUAs incorporate quantitative and qualitative metrics when comparing operative techniques or interventions with nonoperative management.…”

“…1 Although several types of economic evaluation are commonly reported, a major advantage of using cost-utility analyses (CUA) is the assessment of health benefits in terms of patient health states rather than cost alone. 1,2 CUAs incorporate quantitative and qualitative metrics when comparing operative techniques or interventions with nonoperative management. These analyses are particularly important in plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS), as some of the most significant improvements after interventions are related to increasing patient quality, rather than quantity, of life.…”

“…In a systematic review of HSUVs in the surgical literature in 2004, only three studies within PRS were included. 14 The importance of HSUVs in PRS cost analyses has been emphasized since that time 1,15 ; however, widespread implementation has been slow. 16 The purpose of this study was threefold: (1) To systematically review the PRS literature and evaluate the state of HSUV research, (2) to aggregate this data where appropriate into a useable database of HSUVs that can be referenced by investigators interested in performing CUAs, and (3) to critically appraise the quality of the included studies using a pre-established set of criteria.…”