Table 2 Economic outcomes to include in economic evaluation
From: Is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) cost-effective? a systematic review
Type of Cost | Examples | Perspectives in Which This Cost is Included |
|---|---|---|
Direct costs: Medical | Intervention costs: Practitioner fees Diagnostic costs Therapy costs Service costs: Facilities and equipment, including hospitalization or clinic/office costs Ancillary staff | Portion paid by health plan included in institutional perspective Portion paid by patient included in individual perspective All included in societal perspective |
Direct costs: Non-medical | Transportation costs Time off work for appointments/hospitalization | Usually all paid by the patient, so often included in individual perspective All included in societal perspective |
Indirect costs | Lost work productivity during recuperation Lost leisure time Child care costs Costs to care givers | Usually all paid by the patient, so often included in individual perspective All included in societal perspective |
Intangible costs | Pain Suffering Grief | Not usually included as costs; instead, may be included in humanistic outcomes in cost-utility analysis |