44 research outputs found
Valuing health state: An EQ-5D-5L value set for Ethiopians
Objectives
There is a growing interest in health technology assessment and economic evaluations in developing countries such as Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to derive an EQ-5D-5L value set from the Ethiopian general population to facilitate cost utility analysis.
Methods
A nationally representative sample (N = 1050) was recruited using a stratified multistage quota sampling technique. Face-to-face, computer-assisted interviews using the EuroQol Portable Valuation Technology (EQ-PVT) protocol of composite time trade-off (c-TTO) and discrete choice experiments (DCEs) were undertaken to elicit preference scores. The feasibility of the EQ-PVT protocol was pilot tested in a sample of the population (n = 110). A hybrid regression model combining c-TTO and DCE data was used to estimate the final value set.
Results
In the pilot study, the acceptability of the tasks was good, and there were no special concerns with undertaking the c-TTO and DCE tasks. The coefficients generated from a hybrid model were logically consistent. The predicted values for the EQ-5D-5L ranged from â0.718 to 1. Level 5 anxiety/depression had the largest impact on utility decrement (â0.458), whereas level 5 self-care had the least impact (â0.222). The maximum predicted value beyond full health was 0.974 for the 11112 health state.
Conclusions
This is the first EQ-5D-5L valuation study in Africa using international valuation methods (c-TTO and DCE) and also the first using the EQ-PVT protocol to derive a value set. We expect that the availability of this value set will facilitate health technology assessment and health-related quality-of-life research and inform policy decision making in Ethiopia
A Bayesian analysis of pentaquark signals from CLAS data
We examine the results of two measurements by the CLAS collaboration, one of
which claimed evidence for a pentaquark, whilst the other found no
such evidence. The unique feature of these two experiments was that they were
performed with the same experimental setup. Using a Bayesian analysis we find
that the results of the two experiments are in fact compatible with each other,
but that the first measurement did not contain sufficient information to
determine unambiguously the existence of a . Further, we suggest a
means by which the existence of a new candidate particle can be tested in a
rigorous manner.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
First measurement of direct photoproduction on the proton
We report on the results of the first measurement of exclusive
meson photoproduction on protons for GeV and GeV. Data were collected with the CLAS detector at the Thomas
Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. The resonance was detected via its
decay in the channel by performing a partial wave analysis of the
reaction . Clear evidence of the meson
was found in the interference between and waves at GeV. The -wave differential cross section integrated in the mass range of
the was found to be a factor of 50 smaller than the cross section
for the meson. This is the first time the meson has been
measured in a photoproduction experiment
Deeply Virtual Compton Scattering Beam-Spin Asymmetries
The beam spin asymmetries in the hard exclusive electroproduction of photons
on the proton (ep -> epg) were measured over a wide kinematic range and with
high statistical accuracy. These asymmetries result from the interference of
the Bethe-Heitler process and of deeply virtual Compton scattering. Over the
whole kinematic range (x_B from 0.11 to 0.58, Q^2 from 1 to 4.8 GeV^2, -t from
0.09 to 1.8 GeV^2), the azimuthal dependence of the asymmetries is compatible
with expectations from leading-twist dominance, A = a*sin(phi)/[1+c*cos(phi)].
This extensive set of data can thus be used to constrain significantly the
generalized parton distributions of the nucleon in the valence quark sector.Comment: 1 tex file (6 pages), 4 (eps) figure
Long-Term Health Care Costs for Prostate Cancer Patients on Androgen Deprivation Therapy
Background: Comparing relative costs for androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) protocols in prostate cancer (PCa) requires an examination of all health care resources, not only those specific to PCa. The objective of the present study was to use administrative data to estimate total health care costs in a population-based cohort of PCa patients. Methods: Patients in Ontario with PCa who started 90 days or more of ADT at age 66 years or older during 1995â2005 were selected from cancer registry and health care administrative databases. We classified patients (n = 21,818) by regimen (medical castration, orchiectomy, anti-androgen monotherapy, medical castration with anti-androgen, orchiectomy with anti-androgen) and indication (neoadjuvant, adjuvant, metastatic disease, biochemical recurrence, primary nonmetastatic). Using nonparametric regression methods, with inverse probability weighting to adjust for censoring, and bootstrapping, we computed mean 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year longitudinal total direct medical costs (2009 Canadian dollars). Results: Mean first-year costs were highest for metastatic disease, ranging from 32,120 for anti-androgen monotherapy. Mean first-year costs for all other indications were less than 43,000 and 4,000 between regimens. Annual costs were highest in the first year of ADT. Orchiectomy was the least costly regimen for most time periods, but was limited to primary and metastatic indications. Outpatient drugs, including pharmacologic ADT, accounted for 17%â65% of total first-year costs. Conclusions: Compared with combined therapies, the ADT monotherapies, particularly orchiectomy when clinically feasible, are more economical. Our methods exemplified the use of algorithms to elucidate clinical information from administrative data. Our approach can be adapted for other cancers to expand the range of studies using Canadian administrative data