UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Assessing the costs and outcomes of control programmes for sexually transmitted infections: a systematic review of economic evaluations

Bloch, SCM; Jackson, LJ; Frew, E; Ross, JDC; (2021) Assessing the costs and outcomes of control programmes for sexually transmitted infections: a systematic review of economic evaluations. Sexually Transmitted Infections , 97 (5) pp. 334-344. 10.1136/sextrans-2020-054873. Green open access

[thumbnail of draft_Proof_hi.pdf]
Preview
Text
draft_Proof_hi.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (919kB) | Preview

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify economic evaluations of interventions to control STIs and HIV targeting young people, and to assess how costs and outcomes are measured in these studies. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCE:Seven databases were searched (Medline (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), Web of Science, PsycINFO, NHS Economic Evaluation Database, NHS Health Technology Assessment and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects) from January 1999 to April 2019. Key search terms were STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis) and HIV, cost benefit, cost utility, economic evaluation, public health, screening, testing and control. REVIEW METHODS: Studies were included that measured costs and outcomes to inform an economic evaluation of any programme to control STIs and HIV targeting individuals predominantly below 30 years of age at risk of, or affected by, one or multiple STIs and/or HIV in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Data were extracted and tabulated and included study results and characteristics of economic evaluations. Study quality was assessed using the Philips and BMJ checklists. Results were synthesised narratively. RESULTS: 9530 records were screened and categorised. Of these, 31 were included for data extraction and critical appraisal. The majority of studies assessed the cost-effectiveness or cost-utility of screening interventions for chlamydia from a provider perspective. The main outcome measures were major outcomes averted and quality-adjusted life years. Studies evaluated direct medical costs, for example, programme costs and 11 included indirect costs, such as productivity losses. The study designs were predominantly model-based with significant heterogeneity between the models. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: None of the economic evaluations encompassed aspects of equity or context, which are highly relevant to sexual health decision-makers. The review demonstrated heterogeneity in approaches to evaluate costs and outcomes for STI/HIV control programmes. The low quality of available studies along with the limited focus, that is, almost all studies relate to chlamydia, highlight the need for high-quality economic evaluations to inform the commissioning of sexual health services.

Type: Article
Title: Assessing the costs and outcomes of control programmes for sexually transmitted infections: a systematic review of economic evaluations
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2020-054873
Publisher version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/sextrans-2020-054873
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > Institute for Global Health
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10136645
Downloads since deposit
76Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item