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Table 3 Example: Finding evidence for resource consequences. The following data sources were used to estimate the differences in resource use between a programme of outreach visits (targeted at all general practitioners in Norway) and no programme (the status quo) [27]. The programme is described further in Table 1.

From: SUPPORT Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 12: Finding and using research evidence about resource use and costs

Resources

Data sources

Development of software

Invoices, estimates of time spent

Training of outreach visitors

Estimate of time spent; invoices

Printed materials

Invoice

Travel

Record of travel days, estimate of travel distances

Pharmacists' time

Record of number of visits and days spent on visits

Administrative time

Records and estimates of time expenditure

Physicians' time

Record of length of outreach visit and number of physicians present

Technical support

Records of invoices

Drug expenditure

Medical records

Patient visits

Medical records

Laboratory tests

Medical records

  1. Because data were only collected for one year and from 139 practices (501 physicians, half of whom received outreach visits and half of whom did not) it was necessary to extrapolate the use of resources beyond one year and to the rest of the country.