Do People Consider Lost Earnings When Valuing Illness?

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 01 Oct 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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An international research team based at the University of Sheffield and Erasmus University Rotterdam have found large differences between individuals when examining what they consider when valuing health states.

Through a review of existing scientific literature the authors aim to examine whether people consider lost earnings when valuing health states.

The results show that some people do consider income losses while others do not. In most cases considering income does not affect valuations.

One issue that is particularly contentious, even amongst professional "health economists" is how to incorporate the impact of ill health on earnings? When people say "health", does this include the ability to earn, so that a "health improvement" includes increased income? Or do people perceive health and income to be separate?

The lead author, Mr. Tilling says "This work has highlighted a possible problem with current guidelines for health care decision making. We hope to contribute further by carrying forward research in this important area."

This will be discussed in a future issue of Value in Health, the official journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and outcomes Research.

Value in Health (ISSN 1098-3015) publishes papers, concepts, and ideas that advance the field of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research and help health care leaders to make decisions that are solidly evidence-based. The journal is published bi-monthly and has a regular readership of over 4,000 clinicians, decision-makers, and researchers worldwide.

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ISPOR

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