Utility

Utility, or usefulness, is the (perceived) ability of something to satisfy needs or wants. In health economics, utilities measure the strength of patient preferences. For example, how important various factors are to patients, such as symptoms, pain, and psychological health. The impact of new treatments on those factors, and therefore on quality of life (QoL), can then be calculated. This is a common approach used by health technology assessment (HTA) bodies, which advise on whether treatments should be funded by (for example) government health departments.

Synonyms:

usefulness

Glossary: Quality-adjusted life year [QALY]
Biomarkers
Biomarkers are indicators used in medical research to measure biological processes, disease processes, and responses to treatment. The use of biomarkers can improve the process of medicines development and help tailor treatments to individuals.
Clinical study results: Publication
After they are published, clinical study results should be critically reviewed and assessed for such things as reliability, bias, significance, and fit with existing literature.
Economic evaluation in HTA
Economic evaluation in HTA is a comparison of costs and consequences of health technologies.
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) assessment
Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) focus on real benefits important to and achievable for patients.

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