Aims

To support the free and open dissemination of research findings and information on alcoholism and alcohol-related problems. To encourage open access to peer-reviewed articles free for all to view.

For full versions of posted research articles readers are encouraged to email requests for "electronic reprints" (text file, PDF files, FAX copies) to the corresponding or lead author, who is highlighted in the posting.

___________________________________________

Sunday, April 1, 2007

Costs and outcomes of treatments for excessive alcohol consumption: Making policy decisions with the available data

Drugs: education, prevention and policy, Volume 14, Issue 1 February 2007 , pages 1 - 17





To determine which treatments for risky or dependent alcohol consumption provide the best health outcomes for a given expenditure.

By using two treatment outcomes instead of one we demonstrated that some treatments for alcohol dependence provide better value for money, but as a result we were unable to complete a formal health economic evaluation. Consistent measurement of alcohol consumption outcomes in research studies would facilitate similar economic evaluations in the future. This work illustrates the difficulties of using research studies with non-comparable outcomes to inform policy on the cost-effectiveness of different treatments.

READ FULL ABSTRACT

REPRINT REQUEST E-MAIL: amy.gibson@unsw.edu.au

___________________________________________________________________
at