HAR694: Valuing the Benefits of Health Care
This module is led by Aki Tsuchiya and Tessa Peasgood. It runs in the Spring semester and is worth 15 credits.
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Module description
This module explores in detail specialist topics related to the valuation of healthcare benefits.
The course content is based around three topics: the assessment of outcomes in economic evaluation, the quality-adjusted life year (QALY) model and its weaknesses, and the use of alternative methods like willingness to pay.
All topics will start with the basic critical appraisal of these methods developed in the Economic Evaluation module (HAR6260) and explore in greater depths the weaknesses of conventional methods and the alternative formulations that are available.
This module teaches a selection of the internationally regarded research conducted by ScHARR in health outcomes and utilities, including condition-specific and generic preference-based measures, mapping, and reviewing and using utilities in health-economic models.
As well as teaching the quality-adjusted life year (QALY) measure, the module is internationally relevant through its coverage of healthy year equivalents (HYEs), disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and wellbeing.
The module also includes consideration of wider societal benefits, willingness to pay and discrete choice experiments, that all go beyond QALYs to measure benefit.
Objectives
By the end of the module, a student will be able to
- identify a range of approaches and instruments to valuing health outcomes and formulate suitable alternative approaches
- evaluate critically strengths and weaknesses in the QALY model
- evaluate the role of alternative approaches to the QALY
Teaching
This module can also be taken as part of the following courses:
The aims and learning outcomes are achieved through a variety of teaching methods. Informal lectures and tutorials will provide the majority of the contact hours between students and lecturers.
The seminars (three one-hour sessions and one three-hour session) will be based around homework given to the students in preceding weeks and around assessments.
Study expectations
Students will also be expected to undertake approximately 120 hours of independent study which will be self-directed through small pieces of homework that will be set throughout the unit.
Fees and funding
You can find out more about fees and funding for CPD modules in the School of Medicine and Population Health at the link below. We accept sponsored as well as self-funding students.
How to apply
Find out what you need to do to apply for a CPD module in the School of Medicine and Population Health.
Contact
For more information on this module, speak to the lead academic:
The content of our courses is reviewed annually to make sure it is up-to-date and relevant. Individual modules are occasionally updated or withdrawn. This is in response to discoveries through our world-leading research, funding changes, professional accreditation requirements, student or employer feedback, outcomes of reviews, and variations in staff or student numbers. In the event of any change we'll consult and inform students in good time and take reasonable steps to minimise disruption.
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International scholarships
We offer a generous package of financial support for international students, including undergraduate and postgraduate taught scholarships worth £10,000 towards the annual tuition fee.
Applications are open for existing offer holders for programmes starting in autumn 2025.