This scientific poster describes a review study and explains its importance. Thirty documents containing Economic Evaluations (EEs) of motor vehicle related injury prevention interventions performed since 1980 were reviewed. These interventions are included in the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis Lifesaving Database. EE types distinguished are: (a) cost-effectiveness; (b) cost-benefit; and (c) cost-utility. Criteria for inclusion in the database are: (i) the intervention objectives include the reduction of fatalities; (ii) the intervention is relevant to the United States; (iii) there is reporting of cost per year of life saved; and (iv) the document is written in English. The review reveals: reveals: (1) a tendency to misuse EE terminology; (2) an unsystematic approach to costs accounting; (3) lack of clarity in establishing the origin of costs values; (4) exclusion of quality-of-life and psychological consequences; (5) no consideration of resource consumption induced by added longevity; (6) absence of adjustment for inflation; (7) nonuse of discounting; (8) inconsistent use of sensitivity analysis; and (9) the absence of a value-of-information analysis.
Abstract