Discuss alternative study designs, information sources and other data that you might also consider in assessing the quality of the evidence for an economic evaluation.

Evaluate the quality of the evidence provided below. Discuss alternative study designs, information sources and other data that you might also consider in assessing the quality of the evidence for an economic evaluation.

A new intervention for the treatment of “heart attack” (20% better outcomes than existing techniques, requires new equipment).

Data source: Small study undertaken by one surgeon at a single large private hospital, number of patients treated was 20. The study was published as a case series in a medical journal. Reported outcome was hospital average length of stay compared to patients treated in the same hospital during the same time period. Mean length of stay was 2.3 days to discharge compared to 2.9 days to discharge.