The Graduate Certificate Programme includes four semester courses:
Course 1: Introduction to Health Econometrics (15 Jan 2024 to 19 Apr 2024)
This course is the first of two econometrics courses which aims to equip students with fundamental knowledge in econometric methods commonly applied in health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) and how to apply those methods using the Stata programming language. These methods can be used to
quantify the direct (medical) and indirect burden of diseases and risk factors, evaluate effectiveness of health technologies, as inputs into cost-effectiveness and budget impact analyses, provide real-world evidence for use in clinical guidelines and policy recommendations. The course begins with basic statistical theory review and econometric analysis with the simple linear regression model to develop a foundational understanding of data analysis, model building, and hypothesis testing. It proceeds to include multivariate controls and binary outcomes. All examples are based on real-world applications.
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to:
- Obtain good understanding of basic statistics theory based on the simple regression model estimation and hypothesis testing that are conducted.
- Gain familiarity with the Stata programming language, which is the standard for health economic analyses.
- Learn the assumptions of regression, inferences from data, model diagnostics, and model selections.
- Learn common sources of biases in regression models.
This course will require Stata software.
Course 2: Introduction to Health Economic Modelling (15 Jan 2024 to 19 Apr 2024)
This course aims to equip students with skills required to perform their own cost-effectiveness analyses of health technologies and to critically assess the quality of evaluations conducted by others. It begins with an introduction to key concepts in economic evaluation and decision-analytic modelling. We then transition to building decision-analytic models. We focus on two models commonly used in cost-effectiveness analyses in healthcare: namely decision trees and Markov models. The course includes hands-on-training on how to build these models in Microsoft Excel using real-world examples, so students understand how to implement these methods from first principles.
Upon completion of the course, students are expected be able to:
- Quantify economic burden, cost interventions, and value health gains.
- Conduct cost-effectiveness analysis.
- Implement decision trees and Markov models in Excel.
- Conduct deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis of their models.
- Critically evaluate cost-effectiveness studies
This course will require Microsoft Excel.
Course 3: Advanced Health Econometrics (19 Aug 2024 to 22 Nov 2024)
This advanced course aims to expand students’ econometric knowledge and Stata programming abilities in three key areas of Health Economic Evaluation: (1) modelling discrete outcomes, such as the number of admissions and lengths of stay, (2) modelling censored and non-normally distributed outcomes, such as medical expenditures and (3) techniques for causal inference. Estimation of these outcomes requires a movement away from traditional ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis. This course will focus on generalized linear models, count models, models that deal with data with mass at zero, models with long tails, and models that address endogeneity. Techniques include difference-in-differences, regression discontinuity designs, propensity score matching, instrumental variables and two-stage least squares.
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to:
- Learn how to choose model specifications for given data and research questions of interest.
- Learn advance Stata programming skills to deal with econometrics issues such as selection and other biases in real-world data.
- Learn the advanced econometric methods for conducting burden of illness analyses and policy evaluation.
This course will require Stata software and basic knowledge of using Stata.
Course 4: Advanced Health Technology Assessment Methods (19 Aug 2024 to 22 Nov 2024)
Building on key concepts introduced in the introductory course, this course moves students from modelling in Microsoft Excel, which is helpful to ensure a basic understanding of cost-effectiveness analysis, to modelling in TreeAge Pro. TreeAge Pro is a specialized software that offers a range of built-in functions for more sophisticated models that are easier to produce, although often with less transparency. Using real-world examples, we will introduce students to advanced modelling strategies.
Upon completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:
- Conceptualize and validate decision-analytic models according to best practices.
- Identify and synthesize evidence for economic evaluation.
- Use TreeAge Pro to construct and analyse decision-trees, Markov models and its extensions.
- Conduct budget impact analysis.
- Implement advanced modelling strategies such as individual-level simulations and distributional cost-effectiveness analysis
This course will require TreeAge Pro software.