Decision Analysis in Clinical Research

RDS 286 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Decision Analysis in Clinical Research (RDS286) introduces students to the systematic methods of evidence-based decision analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis, and familiarizes students with their growing range of applications in clinical and public health decision making, clinical and comparative effectiveness research, economic evaluation and health technology assessment.

Topics of the sessions include: the use of causal trees/diagrams/estimands to express comparative efficacy and real-world effectiveness for clinical procedures and public health interventions; the principles of linked evidence and different model types; the use of sensitivity analysis to assess and express uncertainty; Bayes theorem and evaluation of diagnostic test strategies; utility theory and its use to integrate patient preferences in health outcomes; benefit-harm analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis for clinical research, clinical guideline development, health technology assessment and health policy decision making. Lectures are accompanied by case problems, as well as optional group work breakout sessions, self-assessment quizzes, review sessions and computer exercises.

After this course, students will understand the uses, strengths, limitations and ethical issues of decision analysis and cost effectiveness in clinical decision making and research design. We will discuss case examples for prevention, treatment and disease management from different disease areas including cancer, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, pandemic control, and others.

Requires prior knowledge of clinical medicine or related subjects (through training and/or clinical research experience) and strong quantitative ability/aptitude. Priority for enrollment will be given to students in the Program for Clinical Effectiveness (PCE).