Foster E Michael, Dodge Kenneth A, Jones Damon
Pennsylvania State University.
Appl Dev Sci. 2003 Apr 1;7(2):76-86. doi: 10.1207/S1532480XADS0702_4.
Economic analysis plays an increasingly important role in prevention research. In this article, we describe one form of economic analysis, a cost analysis. Such an analysis captures not only the direct costs of an intervention but also its impact on the broader social costs of the illness or problem targeted. The key question is whether the direct costs are offset by reductions in the other, morbidity-related costs, such as the use of expensive services. We begin by describing how economists think about costs. We then outline the steps involved in calculating the costs of delivering an intervention, including both implicit and explicit costs. Next we examine methods for estimating the morbidity-related costs of the illness or problem targeted by the intervention. Finally, we identify the challenges one faces when conducting such an analysis. Throughout the article, we illustrate key points using our experiences with evaluating the Fast Track intervention, a multiyear, multicomponent intervention targeted to children at risk of emotional and behavioral problems.
经济分析在预防研究中发挥着越来越重要的作用。在本文中，我们描述了一种经济分析形式，即成本分析。这种分析不仅涵盖了干预措施的直接成本，还包括其对所针对疾病或问题的更广泛社会成本的影响。关键问题是直接成本是否会被其他与发病率相关的成本（如使用昂贵服务的成本）的降低所抵消。我们首先描述经济学家如何看待成本。然后我们概述计算实施一项干预措施成本所涉及的步骤，包括隐性成本和显性成本。接下来，我们研究估算干预措施所针对疾病或问题的与发病率相关成本的方法。最后，我们确定进行此类分析时所面临的挑战。在整篇文章中，我们通过评估“快车道”干预措施的经验来说明要点，“快车道”干预措施是一项针对有情绪和行为问题风险儿童的多年期、多组成部分的干预措施。
