The DH register of cost-effectiveness studies: a review of study content and quality

The Department of Health has recently published a register of economic evaluations of health care treatments and programmes. The objective of the register is to assist health care decision makers in assessing the value for money from alternative ways of allocation scarce resources. If the register is to be useful, it is important that decision makers have an appreciation of the methodological quality of the studies contained in the register, and hence the confidence that can be placed in the results. This discussion paper gives details of an approach for assessing the methodological quality of economic evaluations. A worked example of a search in the register is presented and discussed. Some summary findings of the studies contained in the first published version of the register are presented together with a listing of the studies included. The interpretation of the existing register and the future reporting of economic evaluations are discussed.