Methodological characteristics of studies of economically attractive safety improvements in acute care (N=5)
| Methodological feature | Karnon et al35 | Shermock et al36 | Regenbogen et al37 | Maenthaisong et al38 | Waters et al39 |
| Patient safety target (total methodological feature score out of 35) | Adverse events | Adverse events | Foreign body (24 out of 35) | Nosocomial infection | Nosocomial infection |
| 1. The research question is stated | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 2. The economic importance of the research question is stated | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 3. The viewpoint(s) of the analysis are clearly stated and justified | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 4. The form of economic evaluation used is stated | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 5. Alternatives being compared are clearly described | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 6. Form of economic evaluation used is stated | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 7. The choice of form of economic evaluation is justified in relation to the questions addressed | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 8. The sources of effectiveness estimates used are stated | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 9. Details of the design and results of effectiveness study are given (if based on a single study) | Y | Y | Y | N | Y |
| 10. Details of the method of synthesis or meta-analysis of estimates are given (if based on an overview of a number of effectiveness studies) | N | Y | N | Y | N |
| 11. The primary outcome measure(s) for the economic evaluation are clearly stated | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 12. Methods used to value health states and other benefits are stated | Y | N | N | N | N |
| 13. Details of the subjects from whom valuations were obtained are given | Y | N | N | N | N |
| 14. Productivity changes (if included) are reported separately | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| 15. The relevance of productivity changes to the study question is discussed | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| 16. Quantities of resources are reported separately from their unit costs | N | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 17. Methods of the estimation of quantities and unit costs are described | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 18. Currency and price data are recorded | Y | Y | N | Y | Y |
| 19. Details of currency of price adjustments for inflation or currency conversion are given | Y | N | N | N | Y |
| 20. Details of any model used are given | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| 21. The choice of model used and the key parameters on which it is based are justified | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| 22. Time horizon of costs and benefits is stated | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 23. The discount rate(s) is stated | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| 24. The choice of rate(s) is justified | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| 25. An explanation is given if costs or benefits are not discounted | N | Y | Y | N | N |
| 26. Details of statistical tests and CIs are given for stochastic data | N | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 27. The approach to sensitivity analysis is given | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| 28. The choice variables for sensitivity analysis is justified | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| 29. The ranges over which the variables are varied are stated | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
| 30. Relevant alternatives are compared | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 31. Incremental analysis is reported | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 32. Major outcomes are presented in a disaggregated as well as aggregated form* | Y | Y | Y | N | N |
| 33. The answer to the study question is given | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 34. Conclusions follow from the data reported | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| 35. Conclusions are accompanied by the appropriate caveats | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
↵* A disaggregated cost lists each element of a total cost. For example, a disaggregated cost for a surgical site infection could include inpatient professional costs, outpatient professional costs, medication costs, and per diem hospital bed-day costs.
Y, yes; N, no.