Objective: To propose a tool for critical analysis of economic evaluation studies based on a synthesis of checklists and guidelines available in the literature.
Methods: The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, Embase, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, and International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research. Two investigators independently selected the studies and extracted the data of interest. The number of questions that the checklists contained were counted on the following domains: study design, measurement of costs and health outcomes, analysis and interpretation of results, and general information. A matrix containing the items in each domain was constructed, and a tool for critical analysis was built based on that matrix.
Results: The literature search retrieved 406 non-duplicated articles, 19 of which were included in the study. Five hundred sixty-six questions were identified in the checklists employed in these studies: 109 (19%) dealt with health outcomes, 93 (16%) with quantification of costs, 73 (13%) with modeling, 54 (10%) with generalization of findings, and 52 (9%) with uncertainty. The resulting critical analysis checklist contains 32 questions organized into four domains: study design, measurement of costs and health outcomes, analysis and interpretation of results, and general information.
Conclusions: The proposed critical analysis checklist is useful to standardize the assessment of the quality of evidence in all types of economic evaluations.