What This Document Is
These are lecture notes from a Public Health Planning and Evaluation course (CHSC 433) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The notes focus on the critical area of economic evaluations within public health initiatives, providing a foundational understanding of how to assess the value and efficiency of different programs and interventions. This resource is designed to supplement coursework and offer a structured overview of key concepts.
Why This Document Matters
This material is particularly valuable for public health students, professionals involved in program planning, and anyone seeking to understand how economic principles are applied to health-related decision-making. It’s most helpful when you’re learning about program evaluation methodologies, resource allocation, or preparing to participate in or critically review economic evaluations of public health programs. Understanding these concepts is crucial for advocating for effective and sustainable health initiatives.
Topics Covered
* The conceptual basis of economic evaluations in public health
* Distinguishing between different types of economic evaluations
* Key terminology used in economic evaluations (opportunity costs, discounting, etc.)
* The process of conducting cost and effect evaluations
* Major types of cost analyses – cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, and cost-utility
* Understanding the nuances of each evaluation type and when to apply them
* The importance of being a critical consumer of economic evaluation reports
What This Document Provides
* An overview of the objectives for understanding economic evaluations.
* A framework for deciding which type of economic evaluation is most appropriate for a given scenario.
* A comparative look at different evaluation types, outlining what each assesses.
* A discussion of the essential steps involved in conducting cost and effect evaluations.
* Formulas and components considered when calculating key ratios in cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, and cost-utility analyses.
* A foundation for interpreting and applying economic evaluation findings.
