Systematic Review of Health Economic Evaluations Focused on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: The Tortoise and the Cheetah

ObjectivesThis study aimed to systematically review recent health economic evaluations (HEEs) of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare. The aim was to discuss pertinent methods, reporting quality and challenges for future implementation of AI in healthcare, and additionally advise future HEEs.MethodsA systematic literature review was conducted in 2 databases (PubMed and Scopus) for articles published in the last 5 years. Two reviewers performed independent screening, full-text inclusion, data extraction, and appraisal. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards and Philips checklist were used for the quality assessment of included studies.ResultsA total of 884 unique studies were identified; 20 were included for full-text review, covering a wide range of medical specialties and care pathway phases. The most commonly evaluated type of AI was automated medical image analysis models (n = 9, 45%). The prevailing health economic analysis was cost minimization (n = 8, 40%) with the costs saved per case as preferred outcome measure. A total of 9 studies (45%) reported model-based HEEs, 4 of which applied a time horizon >1 year. The evidence supporting the chosen analytical methods, assessment of uncertainty, and model structures was underreported. The reporting quality of the articles was moderate as on average studies reported on 66% of Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards items.ConclusionsHEEs of AI in healthcare are limited and often focus on costs rather than health impact. Surprisingly, model-based long-term evaluations are just as uncommon as model-based short-term evaluations. Consequently, insight into the actual benefits offered by AI is lagging behind current technological developments.     

基层医生的儿童功能性便秘诊疗能力研究

背景 功能性便秘（FC）是儿童常见健康问题，也是儿童父母在基层医疗卫生机构门诊就诊中咨询频率较高的问题。尽管便秘不是急症，但如果处理不当，可能会引起严重的并发症，进而影响儿童及其家庭的生活质量。 目的 了解基层医生的儿童FC诊疗水平，为针对性提高基层医生的儿童FC诊疗与管理能力提供依据。 方法 于2020年7月，在北京市西城区基层医疗卫生机构中选取在日常诊疗中能接触到儿童患者的医生130例。采用本研究组自行设计的问卷对纳入医生开展调查，内容包括对≥6个月儿童FC诊断中常见症状的认知，以及对儿童FC的推荐治疗方法、推荐治疗药物、药物治疗时机及治疗持续时间等。 结果 108例（83.1%）基层医生的问卷被有效回收，其中全科医生34例（31.5%）、儿科医生30例（27.8%）、中医科医生30例（27.8%），平均每月门诊接触儿童患者（10.1±4.4）例。对于儿童FC的诊断：当≥6个月患儿出现排便次数少、大便坚硬、排便时出血、大便失禁、排便困难、排出稠便前哭泣症状时，分别有40.7%（44/108）、39.8%（43/108）、23.1%（25/108）、9.3%（14/108）、39.8%（43/108）、23.1%（25/108）的基层医生会考虑将其诊断为FC；51.9%（56/108）的基层医生认为同时存在排便次数少、排便困难两种症状时可诊断为FC；25.0%（27/108）的基层医生认为，同时存在排便次数少、大便坚硬、排便时出血、排便困难4种症状时可诊断为FC。对于儿童FC的治疗：37.0%（40/108）的基层医生推荐将药物治疗作为儿童FC的首选治疗方法；63.0%（68/108）的基层医生推荐将非药物治疗作为首选治疗方法，其中88.2%（60/68）推荐腹部按摩，85.3%（58/68）推荐高纤维饮食，82.4%（56/68）推荐如厕训练，72.1%（49/68）推荐增加液体摄入量。75.9%（82/108）的基层医生推荐使用乳果糖治疗；27.8%（30/108）的基层医生推荐联合应用柠檬酸钠、十二烷基磺基乙酸钠、山梨糖醇的微灌肠为直肠治疗方法，64.8%（70/108）的基层医师建议在患儿排便特别困难时进行直肠给药。基层医生认为，患儿开始治疗到有阳性反应的平均时间为（4.1±2.6）d；基层医生对儿童FC的平均治疗时间为（21.2±4.3）d；88.9%（96/108）的基层医生认为，便秘平均平均治疗（46.0±9.3）d可终止；当排便频率和/或稠度恢复正常/患者不再有不适时，88.9%（96/108）的基层医生会考虑停止治疗。 结论 尽管基层医生对儿童FC的诊断和治疗有一定认识，但总体认知水平有待提高。建议进一步提升现有基层医生对儿童FC的认知和综合管理能力，并制定基层医疗卫生机构的儿童FC综合管理模式，以提高对儿童FC的管理水平，从而降低患病率、提升治愈率。     

个性化健康教育在妊高症42例护理中的应用

目的对妊娠高血压综合征患者采用个性化健康教育的效果进行探究。方法选择本院收治的妊娠高血压综合征患者84例作为本次研究的纳入对象,时间为2019年4月至2020年4月。按照随机处理的方式对其予以分组,其中甲组42例,乙组42例。通过常规护理的方式对甲组予以护理,以此为基础,通过个性化健康教育的方式对乙组予以护理。比较两组的护理效果。结果护理前,两组的血压水平比较差异不显著(P>0.05),护理后,乙组的血压水平明显低于甲组(P<0.05);乙组的不良妊娠结局率明显低于甲组(P<0.05)。结论针对妊娠高血压综合征患者实施个性化健康教育具有显著效果,能够有效降低患者的血压水平,还可以改善其妊娠结局。     

Effects of state reinsurance programs on health insurance exchange premiums and insurer participation

Objective

The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of the state-based reinsurance programs through the section 1332 State Innovation Waivers on health insurance marketplace premiums and insurer participation.

Data Source

2015 to 2022 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Insurance Exchange Compare Datasets.

Study Design

An event study difference-in-differences (DD) model separately for each year of implementation and a synthetic control method (SCM) are used to estimate year-by-year effects following program implementation.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Not applicable.

Principal Findings

Reinsurance programs were associated with a decline in premiums in the first year of implementation by 10%–13%, 5%–19%, and 11%–17% for bronze, silver, and gold plans (p < 0.05). There is a trend of sustained declines especially for states that implemented their programs in 2019 and 2020. The SCM analyses suggest some effect heterogeneity across states but also premium declines across most states. There is no evidence that reinsurance programs affected insurer participation.

Conclusion

State-based reinsurance programs have the potential to improve the affordability of health insurance coverage. However, reinsurance programs do not appear to have had an effect on insurer participation, highlighting the need for policy makers to consider complementary strategies to encourage insurer participation.