Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Introduction
Run-In (RI) periods can be used to improve the validity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but their utility in Chronic Pain (CP) RCTs is debated. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) methods are commonly used in evaluating the results of RCTs, but they are seldom used for designing RCTs. We present a step-by-step overview to objectively design RCTs via CEA methods and specifically determine the cost effectiveness of a RI period in a CP RCT.Methods
We applied the CEA methodology to data obtained from several noninvasive brain stimulation CP RCTs, specifically focusing on (1) defining the CEA research question, (2) identifying RCT phases and cost ingredients, (3) discounting, (4) modeling the stochastic nature of the RCT, and (5) performing sensitivity analyses. We assessed the average cost-effectiveness ratios and incremental cost effectiveness ratios of varied RCT designs and the impact on cost-effectiveness by the inclusion of a RI period vs. No-Run-In (NRI) period.Results
We demonstrated the potential impact of varying the number of institutions, number of patients that could be accommodated per institution, cost and effectiveness discounts, RCT component costs, and patient adherence characteristics on varied RI and NRI RCT designs. In the specific CP RCT designs that we analyzed, we demonstrated that lower patient adherence, lower baseline assessment costs, and higher treatment costs all necessitated the inclusion of an RI period to be cost-effective compared to NRI RCT designs.Conclusions
Clinical trialists can optimize CP RCT study designs and make informed decisions regarding RI period inclusion/exclusion via CEA methods.
SUBMITTER: Rafferty H
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9769699 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Rafferty Haley H Rocha Elisa E Gonzalez-Mego Paola P Ramos Clara L CL El-Hagrassy Mirret M MM Gunduz Muhammed E ME Uygur-Kucukseymen Elif E Zehry Hanan H Chaudhari Swapnali S SS Teixeira Paulo Ep PE Rosa Gleysson R GR Zaninotto Ana L AL Connor Christopher C Eden Uri U Ramos-Estebanez Ciro C Fregni Felipe F Dipietro Laura L Wagner Timothy T
Principles and practice of clinical research (2015) 20220701 2
<h4>Introduction</h4>Run-In (RI) periods can be used to improve the validity of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), but their utility in Chronic Pain (CP) RCTs is debated. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) methods are commonly used in evaluating the results of RCTs, but they are seldom used for designing RCTs. We present a step-by-step overview to objectively design RCTs via CEA methods and specifically determine the cost effectiveness of a RI period in a CP RCT.<h4>Methods</h4>We applied the C ...[more]