TY - JOUR
KW - Clinical Trials as Topic/economics
KW - Cost-Benefit Analysis
KW - Costs and Cost Analysis
KW - Counseling/economics
KW - Family Practice/economics
KW - Feasibility Studies
KW - Humans
KW - Primary Health Care/economics
KW - Sample Size
KW - Sensitivity and Specificity
AU - P. Bower
AU - S. Byford
AU - J. Barber
AU - J. Beecham
AU - S. Simpson
AU - K. Friedli
AU - R. Corney
AU - M. King
AU - I. Harvey
A1 - 
AB - OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of overcoming sample size limitations in economic analyses of clinical trials through meta-analysis of data on individual patients from multiple trials. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of individual patient data from trials of counselling in primary care compared with usual care by a general practitioner. SETTING: Primary care. PATIENTS: People with mental health problems. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Direct treatment costs, depressive symptoms, and cost effectiveness. RESULTS: Meta-analysis of individual patient data proved feasible. The results showed that the previous analyses of individual trials were underpowered to provide useful conclusions about the cost comparisons. The results are sensitive to assumptions made about the costs of sessions with a counsellor and the management of patients by a general practitioner. CONCLUSIONS: Meta-analysis of individual patient data may assist in overcoming sample size limitations in economic analyses. Although feasible, such analysis has shortcomings that may limit the validity of the results. The relative costs and benefits of this method, as opposed to further collection of primary data, are as yet unclear.
BT - BMJ (Clinical research ed.)
C5 - Financing & Sustainability
CP - 7401
CY - England
DO - 10.1136/bmj.326.7401.1247
IS - 7401
JF - BMJ (Clinical research ed.)
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of overcoming sample size limitations in economic analyses of clinical trials through meta-analysis of data on individual patients from multiple trials. DESIGN: Meta-analysis of individual patient data from trials of counselling in primary care compared with usual care by a general practitioner. SETTING: Primary care. PATIENTS: People with mental health problems. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Direct treatment costs, depressive symptoms, and cost effectiveness. RESULTS: Meta-analysis of individual patient data proved feasible. The results showed that the previous analyses of individual trials were underpowered to provide useful conclusions about the cost comparisons. The results are sensitive to assumptions made about the costs of sessions with a counsellor and the management of patients by a general practitioner. CONCLUSIONS: Meta-analysis of individual patient data may assist in overcoming sample size limitations in economic analyses. Although feasible, such analysis has shortcomings that may limit the validity of the results. The relative costs and benefits of this method, as opposed to further collection of primary data, are as yet unclear.
PP - England
PY - 2003
SN - 1468-5833; 0959-535X
SP - 1247
EP - 1250
EP - 
T1 - Meta-analysis of data on costs from trials of counselling in primary care: Using individual patient data to overcome sample size limitations in economic analyses
T2 - BMJ (Clinical research ed.)
TI - Meta-analysis of data on costs from trials of counselling in primary care: Using individual patient data to overcome sample size limitations in economic analyses
U1 - Financing & Sustainability
U2 - 12791741
U3 - 10.1136/bmj.326.7401.1247
VL - 326
VO - 1468-5833; 0959-535X
Y1 - 2003
ER -