Table 2 Factors to be considered when critically appraising an economic analysis

Validity

Primary guides

   Did the analysis provide a full economic comparison of health care

    strategies?

   Were all relevant costs and outcomes properly measured and valued?

Secondary guides

   Was appropriate allowance made for uncertainties in the analysis?

   Are estimates of costs and outcomes related to the baseline risk in

    the treatment population?

What were the results?

What were the incremental costs and outcomes of each strategy?

Do incremental costs and outcomes differ between subgroups?

How much does allowance for uncertainty change the results?

Clinical application

Are the treatment benefits worth the costs and potential harms?

Could my patients expect similar health outcomes from using the

   intervention?

Could I expect similar costs?