Table 3 Barriers to conducting economic evaluations of GCC countries (n = 53)
Statements | Strongly agree % (n) | Agree % (n) | Neutral % (n) | Disagree % (n) | Strongly disagree % (n) | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mean (SD) | Median | ||||||
Absence of relevant health state preference to estimate QALYs | 52.8 (28) | 37.7 (20) | 5.6 (3) | 1.8 (1) | 1.8 (1) | 4.38 (0.8) | 5 |
Restricted access to unit cost datasets to value healthcare resource use such as costs of medications or diagnostics | 41.5 (22) | 37.7 (20) | 15.0 (8) | 5.6 (3) | 0.0 (0) | 4.15 (0.9) | 4 |
Lack of local effectiveness data | 45.2 (24) | 35.8 (19) | 5.6 (3) | 9.4 (5) | 3.7 (2) | 4.09 (1.1) | 4 |
Lack of quality effectiveness data including missing information, incomplete coding and misclassification of variables | 39.6 (21) | 43.4 (23) | 5.6 (3) | 9.4 (5) | 1.8 (1) | 4.09 (1.0) | 4 |
Lack of an independent society for economic evaluation experts where they can meet and share their thoughts and overcome challenges | 41.5 (22) | 37.7 (20) | 11.3 (6) | 7.5 (4) | 1.8 (1) | 4.09 (1.0) | 4 |
Lack of routinely collected national health statistics such as mortality classified by disease states and prevalence | 39.6 (21) | 41.5 (22) | 5.6 (3) | 13.2 (7) | 0.0 (0) | 4.08 (1.0) | 4 |
Lack of contact and interaction among decision-makers, researchers and other stakeholders | 30.1 (16) | 47.1 (25) | 15.0 (8) | 5.6 (3) | 1.8 (1) | 3.98 (0.9) | 4 |
Lack of skilled support personnel such as research assistants and researcher coordinators | 39.6 (21) | 32.0 (17) | 13.2 (7) | 15.0 (8) | 0.00 (0) | 3.96 (1.1) | 4 |
Restricted access to routinely collected national health statistics such as mortality classified by disease states and prevalence | 33.9 (18) | 39.6 (21) | 13.2 (7) | 13.2 (7) | 0.0 (0) | 3.94 (1.0) | 4 |
Fragmentation of the healthcare system; i.e., services are spread across many providers, making estimation of costs and outcomes difficult | 39.6 (21) | 30.1 (16) | 16.9 (9) | 11.3 (6) | 1.8 (1) | 3.94 (1.1) | 4 |
Lack of financial support to conduct economic evaluation | 33.9 (18) | 33.9 (18) | 15.0 (8) | 15.0 (8) | 1.8 (1) | 3.83 (1.1) | 4 |
Limited qualified human resources to conduct economic evaluation research | 33.9 (18) | 33.9 (18) | 15.0 (8) | 15.0 (8) | 1.8 (1) | 3.83 (1.1) | 4 |
Lack of information on healthcare resources used by patients such as types and numbers of medications dispensed or diagnostic procedures performed | 28.3 (15) | 45.2 (24) | 5.6 (3) | 20.7 (11) | 0.0 (0) | 3.81 (1.1) | 4 |
Lack of research infrastructure to support researchers (modelling and simulation software, skilled librarians, biostatisticians, research assistants) | 26.4 (14) | 43.4 (23) | 16.9 (9) | 11.3 (6) | 1.8 (1) | 3.81 (1.0) | 4 |
Lack of support as decision-makers are unwilling to use economic evaluation findings in the decision-making | 33.9 (18) | 28.3 (15) | 18.8 (10) | 16.9 (9) | 1.8 (1) | 3.75 (1.2) | 4 |
No methodological guidelines for conducting economic evaluation that is relevant to my country | 22.6 (12) | 39.6 (21) | 20.7 (11) | 7.5 (4) | 9.4 (5) | 3.58 (1.2) | 4 |
Lack of support as decision-makers lack confidence in economic evaluation findings | 16.9 (9) | 39.6 (21) | 20.7 (11) | 15.0 (8) | 7.5 (4) | 3.43 (1.2) | 4 |
Lack of researchers’ awareness of funding opportunities | 9.4 (5) | 49.0 (26) | 18.8 (10) | 18.8 (10) | 3.7 (2) | 3.42 (1.0) | 4 |
Lack of researchers’ motivation to conduct economic evaluation research | 16.9 (9) | 37.7 (20) | 11.3 (6) | 16.9 (9) | 16.9 (9) | 3.21 (1.4) | 4 |
Insufficient dedicated time for conducing economic evaluation research | 11.3 (6) | 30.1 (16) | 30.1 (16) | 24.5 (13) | 3.7 (2) | 3.21 (1.1) | 3 |
Difficulties in obtaining ethical approval | 5.6 (3) | 18.8 (10) | 32.0 (17) | 26.4 (14) | 16.9 (9) | 2.7 (1.1) | 3 |