The April 2021 Improvement Science and Research Methods seminar from CaHRU was presented by Dr Colin Ridyard, research fellow in econometrics and health economics at CaHRU, on ‘Health Economic Analysis Plans in the context of trial documentation’. Colin has a background in pharmaceutical manufacturing, marketing, the NHS and health economic research. He developed his expertise in health economic analysis and research methods cross various fields including randomised clinical trials, database design, data mapping, methodological development, and infection control. His ongoing academic interests include healthcare resource use, medical statistics, intervention-based research, and seamless big data analysis.
With an ever-increasing interest in transparent approaches to research it is no surprise the spotlight would soon fall on improving the transparency of economic evaluations.One approach to transparency is to mirror the statistical 
analysis plan (SAP) and pre-specify in tandem a health economics analysis plan (HEAP).Colin began by describing the different sources of resource use measures (RUMs) including those derived from research databases, collected by researchers in case report or other routine data, and reported by patients and carers.
The content of HEAPs was determined using a Delphi survey of health economists and a final expert panel, which concluded that 58 items should be included in the essential list. This was followed by a literature review to identify published HEAPs or protocols with detailed descriptions of the economic analysis to be followed in a project. All papers were assessed by two independent researchers. The content of their findings was then checked against items identified in previous studies as essential for HEAPs. The review established HEAPs are not widely-published documents but could allow for a more standardised approach.
If you would like to view the seminar or the slides click below. Future seminars are listed below and past seminars can be accessed via the events page.
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