OBJECTIVES To demonstrate the benefits of using appropriate decision-analytic methods and value of information analysis (DA-VOI). Also to establish the feasibility and implications of applying these methods to inform the prioritisation process of the NHS Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme, and possibly extending their use therein. DATA SOURCES Three research topics that were conside...

Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) as a consultative service for older adults with complex medical and psychosocial challenges has existed for decades. However, studies have often showed inconsistent acceptance and implementation of geriatric recommendations by primary care providers (PCPs) raising doubts about the overall benefits of CGA in this setting. Press and colleagues investigated...

BACKGROUND The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is an analytical tool increasingly implemented in clinical practice. Breast cancer is primarily a disease of older people; however, most evidence-based research is aimed at younger patients. METHODS A systematic review of literature was carried out to assess the use of CGA in older breast cancer patients for clinical decision making. The...

This article presents a process for an integrated policy analysis that combines risk assessment and benefit-cost analysis. This concept, which explicitly combines the two types of related analyses, seems to contradict the long-accepted risk analysis paradigm of separating risk assessment and risk management since benefit-cost analysis is generally considered to be a part of risk management. Yet...

The recent growth in diplomatic, civil and military conflicts presents evolving challenges for international business. These risks create new sources of country risk. Country risk, in this sense, is commonly associated with the risk faced by enterprises in developed countries while conducting their business operations in developing or politically volatile countries. Few studies, however, have b...

regulatory decision making in the assessment of drugs proposed as candidates for nonprescription status. They proposed, inter alia, a ‘value tree’ approach to allow the identification of drug specific attributes within common domains which apply to the benefits and risks of all nonprescription drugs. In doing so they created the components of a potential common language for the evaluation of me...

In trial, when the results are reported as dichotomies variables, the most important measure of effect are represented by the relative risk reduction, absolute risk reduction and number needed to treat, providing the basis for clinicians to balance the benefits and harms of therapy for their patients. The relative risk reduction is a very useful parameter in assessment of a treatment effect if ...

This paper explores the long-term relationship between salaries and asset prices and relates it to asset allocation decisions of defined benefit pension funds. In particular, it discusses whether a 100% bond allocation is indeed the minimum risk position for an ongoing scheme whose benefits accruing to active members rise in line with their wages. The main finding is that, while shorter-run cor...