Economic evaluation is concerned with ensuring that the value of what is gained from an activity outweighs the value of what is sacrificed. As a consequence valuation is an intrinsic part of analyses aimed at informing economic decisions. Different approaches have been suggested in the health research literature for deriving these valuations and the validity and feasibility of these approaches has been studied. In recent years valuations derived from one population setting employing these methods have been used to inform decisions in other population settings. In this paper we consider the appropriateness of this practice. This involves two separate questions; (1) does the establishment of validity of the measurement method in one setting imply the validity of the method in other settings? If such generalisability of methodological validity holds then (2) are the results of the application of the methods in one setting generalisable for use in other settings? These questions will be considered mainly in the context of the use of willingness to pay and applications to preventive health programmes.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to judge the generalisability of willingness to pay methods in evaluating preventive health care programmes across settings.
Keywords: Prevention, Economic Analysis
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.