Tools & Resources

Learning Modules

Learn the basics of economic evaluation, distributional cost-effectiveness analysis, and translation and dissemination of health economic results for a variety of audiences. The modules have content that is specifically relevant to substance use health economic research.

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Each module is self-study and unmonitored. You may complete them at your own pace and return to them as often as you like.

1. Economic Evaluation

This series of training modules is curated for investigators and trainees who are new to economic evaluation. The modules provide an overview of economic evaluation methods, and describe the purpose, significance, and appropriate use of each method.

After watching the modules, participants should be able to:

  • Understand foundational economic evaluation components and how the choice of perspective plays a crucial role in conducting an economic evaluation
  • Describe methods to collect costs and measure the quality of life outcomes
  • Describe the differences between cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses and appropriate uses for each approach
  • Describe a budget impact analysis and how it can be used by different stakeholders

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (17 min)

This training module introduces participants to economic evaluation methods, with an emphasis on cost-effectiveness analysis of treatment interventions of substance use disorder.

Cost Analysis (19 min)

This training module reviews the different types of costing methods and categories of cost, and describes important considerations when collecting costs for an economic evaluation. This module builds on the cost-effectiveness analysis module as it describes the role of analytic perspective in determining which costs to include and the appropriate valuation of those resources.

Health Utilities and Direct Utility Assessment Methods (10 min)

This training module introduces participants to health-related quality-of-life assessments as a common measure of effectiveness in economic evaluations.

Health Utilities and QALYs for Cost-Effectiveness Analyses (7 min)

This training module continues to describe health-related quality-of-life assessments. It introduces algorithm-based quality-of-life measurement tools commonly used in economic evaluations and explains how these measures are used to calculate Quality-Adjusted of Life Years (QALYs), which are a common measure of effectiveness.

Cost-Benefit Analysis (14 min)

This training module introduces participants to cost-benefit analyses as another type of economic evaluation.

Budget Impact Analysis (7 min)

This training module introduces participants to the techniques used in conducting a budget impact analysis.

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2. Amplify[at]LDI: Translating Research for Impact

This curriculum developed by CHERISH and PennLDI is designed for health economics and health services researchers to improve their ability to translate and communicate their findings to a variety of audiences, including policymakers and the lay public. This series of five modules will help you understand how to increase the impact of your research. The modules do not need to be completed in any specific order and no module will take longer than 20 minutes to complete.

After completing these modules, you should be able to:

  • Identify and reach key audiences, including policymakers and the public;
  • Translate your findings into accessible products, including briefs, blogs, and op-eds;
  • Improve your use of media, social media, and policy channels to disseminate your findings.

Op-Eds: In this module, you will learn about how to plan, draft, revise, and prepare an op-ed for publication

Social Media: In this module, you will learn about how to optimize your social media presence for research translation and distribution. Twitter, as the best platform for this work, will be the focus.

Blogs & Briefs: In this module, you will learn how to pitch and recast your ideas and research in the form of blogs and briefs (research, policy, issue).

Media Engagement: In this module, you will learn about how to work effectively with the media to promote your research.

Policymaker Engagement: In this module, you will learn how to identify approaches for academic researchers to engage with policymakers and influence the policy process.

View Course at Penn LDI
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3. Distributional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

This training introduces participants to the concept of distributional cost-effectiveness analysis. In this module, we explain how it differs from the conventional cost-effectiveness analysis, the underlying equity concepts, and describe fundamental considerations when conducting a distributional cost-effectiveness analysis.

At the end of this module, participants should be able to:

  • Identify the methodological differences between a standard cost-effectiveness analysis and distributional cost-effectiveness analysis
  • Understand when it is appropriate to conduct a distributional cost-effectiveness analysis and the key steps to do it.

This module is narrated by Mathieu Castry, a CHERISH Research Affiliate and postdoctoral fellow at the Syndemics Lab. Content from this module is sourced from the Distributional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: Quantifying Health Equity Impacts and Trade-Offs handbook edited by Richard Cookson and colleagues.

Distributional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (30 mins)

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