The HSRAANZ Conference runs every two years to provide an opportunity to discuss and debate research findings and methods in health services research nationally and internationally.

Through this Conference and its other activities, the Association is working to increase recognition of the importance of health services research to improving the performance of health systems in both countries, and to support researchers in their health services careers.   With changes in health structures being debated in Australia, New Zealand and Internationally, shared challenges ahead in order to improve performance, and health research funders on both sides of the Tasman increasing their focus on health services research in recent years, the Association and the Conference play an important role in promoting and sharing high quality research.

Title: Distributional cost-effectiveness analysis – an overview

This presentation will provide an overview of “distributional” or “equity-informative” cost-effectiveness analysis (DCEA) in health care and public health, with illustrative examples and careful attention to the controversial value judgements needed at each stage of the analysis.  The presentation will draw on material being prepared for the forthcoming Oxford University Press book: “Distributional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: A Handbook of Equity-Informative Health Economic Evaluation”, edited by Richard Cookson, Susan Griffin, Ole Norheim and Anthony Culyer, which is due for publication in late 2020.  The phrase “distributional” emphasises that the focus is on distributions of costs and effects, not just aggregate costs and effects.  The phrase “equity-informative” emphasises that the focus is on generating new information about equity, not just incorporating pre-existing value judgements about equity into the analysis.

A 2 day program to be run in Brisbane, 29-30 June 2020. Day 1 is optional for people who have substantial experience in systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

Attendees can register for one day, or both.  The cost of the workshops will be per day and determined closer to the date.

Program

2 day workshop with the current GRADE Workshop preceded by a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis day

Day 1:

The program aims to enable participants to explore the theories and concepts relating to GRADE and the development of Summary of Findings tables and Evidence Profiles. Additionally, we aim to equip participants with the knowledge and tools they need to successfully use GRADE as part of the systematic review, Health Technology Assessment or Guideline Development process.

The objectives are:

1. To introduce participants to the work of the GRADE working group
2. To explain the rationale behind the GRADE approach
3. To explain the key factors to consider when assessing certainty of the evidence
4. To provide hands on experience developing summary of findings tables/evidence profiles
5. To introduce the GRADE approach to developing recommendations and the Evidence to Decision Framework
6. To provide advice about additional resources for guidance following the workshop

Day 2:

This day aims to provide participants with comprehensive understanding of the processes involved in undertaking a systematic review answering a question about the effectiveness of a treatment, intervention, therapy or strategy.

The objectives are to prepare participants to:

• Become familiar with the different types of quantitative research and study designs including experimental, observational and descriptive studies
• Learn the key principles involved in risk of bias assessment/critical appraisal, data extraction and data synthesis
• To undertake meta-analysis and interpret a forest plot

Registrations will open early 2020.  Expressions of interest to get on the mailing list can be sent to contact@aushsi.org.au