The aim of the economic evaluation of a clinical trial is to assess the impact of new forms of treatment across different patient groups. A major problem of economic evaluation is the volume of data that can be potentially collected from a clinical trial. Limitations on resources for this task means that health economists must make informed decisions as to what data to collect so that they can successfully perform their evaluation. This article discusses how simulation can support this kind of decision making by helping health economists develop a deeper understanding of the relationships involved in a clinical trial.
Tamoxifen is a drug in pill form that interferes with the activity of oestrogen.
It has been used for nearly twenty years to treat patients with advanced breast cancer. However, it is unclear whether or not this treatment may be effectively augmented with other forms of adjuvant therapy such as chemotherapy and ovarian suppression. The ABC Trial involved around six thousand patients from representative groups and fourteen different possible treatments. The main objective of adjuvant therapy for early breast cancer is to prolong survival while maintaining a high quality of life. The principle aim of the Trial was to assess the value of combining alternative forms of adjuvant therapy for early breast cancer.