Accessibility statement

Online Courses in Decision Modelling for Health Economic Evaluation

Decision analytic modelling is widely used internationally as a means of estimating the costs, outcomes and cost-effectiveness of different interventions and programmes in health care and public health. In particular, these methods are often employed to assess the value of new pharmaceuticals as a basis for health systems to determine whether they should be funded.

Our Foundations and Advanced courses have been running on campus for a number of years, and we have now developed online versions in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and The Conference Consultancy. 

If you would like to be added to our email mailing list so that you can be notified about our courses and workshops then you can complete this Google Form with your details. We do not share your information with any other organisation or person.

Online Foundations Course

Overview

This is an online course, over the period of 5.5 weeks, providing an introduction to the principles and practice of decision modelling for economic evaluation in health.  

The course is aimed at health economists and those health professionals with experience of health economics who wish to develop skills and knowledge in decision analysis for purposes of economic evaluation It is designed for participants who are familiar with the basic principles of economic evaluation who wish to build, interpret and appraise decision models. It is envisaged that participants will currently be undertaking economic evaluation within the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, consultancy, academia, government or the health system.

Teaching methods

  • Four modules together with introduction, policy context and closing sections
  • ‘Bite-size’ video presentations from members of the Faculty for each module
  • Computer-based exercises using MS Excel 
  • Alternative ‘R’-based exercise track for those already familiar with R
  • Video ‘run-through’ of each exercise by members of the Faculty
  • Online discussion forums monitored by Faculty and tutors
  • One ‘live’ question and answer session for each module with Module leads

Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Consider the role of decision modelling in economic evaluation to guide decision making
  • Use the basic building blocks of decision analysis such as joint and conditional probabilities and expected values
  • Implement the principles of conceptual modelling as a way of planning a model
  • Understand the strengths and weaknesses of the decision tree model and build such a model in Excel
  • Understand the strengths and weaknesses of Markov modelling and build such a model in Excel
  • Build a model for a generic diagnostic test and understand how to assess the value of diagnostic information
  • Think critically about the structure of decision models in particular situations and apply these appropriately

Prerequisites

Participants are expected to be familiar with the methods of economic evaluation. This could be based on previous course attendance, or having studied a relevant textbook such as Drummond et al. Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes, Oxford: OUP, 4th Edition, 2015. A familiarity with Microsoft Excel is essential, as is a familiarity with ‘R’ for those wishing to follow the new R-based exercise track.

Outline programme

Topic

Approximate time to be allocated by student

Introductions and policy background

1 hour

Module 1
Framing, planning and conceptualisation

3 hours

Module 2
Decision trees

3 hours

Module 3
Markov models

3 hours

Module 4
Diagnostics

3 hours

Close-out
Further analytical steps

1 hour

Please note that the exact programme is subject to change although the material covered will remain largely the same

Fees

VAT is not payable. Transferring between courses is not possible. Registration fees are payable in advance of the Course dates and are fully inclusive of:

  • All course materials
  • Access to online teaching platform
  • Support forums
  • Live Q&A sessions  
 2024 Public/academic
sector		 Commercial
sector

Foundations

Course

 TBC TBC

Access the course website for booking here.

This course is being handled by The Conference Consultancy.

For all enquiries, full details & how to book, please visit the Course Website.

For queries please contact:
he-evalcourses@openaudience.com

Course dates

  • Foundations Course
    2025 - TBC
  • Advanced Course
    2025 - TBC