Overall study design | Cost-effectiveness (cost-utility) analysis using a decision analytic model |
Viewpoint for analysis | Societal perspective |
Alternatives compared | Endoscopic carpal tunnel release and open carpal tunnel release for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome |
Benefit measure(s) | Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) |
Sources of effectiveness data | Two randomized controlled trials by Brown et al (14) and Agee et al (13) |
Source(s) of quality of life (utility) weights | Two groups of health care providers using a utility-assessment questionnaire |
Estimates of resource use | Obtained from the 2 randomized controlled trials by Agee et al (13) and Brown et al. (14) |
Source(s) of cost data | The Medicare Resource-Based Relative Value published in the Federal Register (15) and a private, non-profit hospital in Michigan (Transition Systems Inc.) |
Discounting | Not necessary to discount costs as the cost data were collected from randomized controlled trials that were <1 yr in duration. It was assumed that QALYs were discounted by respondents. |
Sensitivity analysis | Varied costs by considering Medicare or private practice. Varied estimates of major complication of median nerve injury. Varied patient’s age by considering 5 different age groups. |