Course Description

This course will cover the fundamental concepts of cost analysis, including the design and methodology of costing studies and data collection techniques specific to cost analysis. Students will explore how cost analysis supports and contributes to health economic evaluation and budget impact analysis, with a particular focus on costing. They will learn about the purpose and value of cost analysis and will apply the knowledge they acquire to various aspects of designing, implementing, and scaling up global public health interventions.

COURSE PREREQUISITES: Familiarity with survey and interview data collection methods, basic math and statistics, strong skills in Microsoft Excel.

Learner Outcomes

• Identify the purpose of cost analysis in evaluations of public health interventions.
• Describe the role and importance of cost evidence for interpreting evaluation results and supporting design and scale-up of global public health interventions.
• Select an appropriate costing methodology to match study objectives and study budgets.
• Explain different methods for identifying, measuring, and valuing/pricing resources use in global public health interventions.
• Select cost data collection methods and templates, and outline the steps involved in collecting cost data.
• Apply the reference case for global health costing and CHEERS statement for reporting economic evaluation to adhere to best practices in conducting a costing study.
• Integrate knowledge and skills from this course to design and conduct a basic costing study as part of a broader evaluation of a global public health intervention.