What is a trial-based economic evaluation?

• A. An assessment using only published data
• B. A cross-sectional cost survey
• C. An analysis based on expert opinion
• D. An economic analysis conducted alongside a clinical trial

Answer: (D)

A trial-based economic evaluation is an economic analysis conducted alongside a clinical trial, using data collected from the trial participants to compare the costs and health outcomes of the interventions. This approach ties resource use and effects directly to the same study population and time frame, benefiting from the trial’s randomization to reduce bias in effectiveness estimates while costs are captured prospectively within the trial. It’s distinct from analyses that rely on published data, separate cross-sectional surveys, or expert opinion, which don’t use the trial data to assess cost-effectiveness.