The Cost of Cochlear Implantation: A Review of Methodological Considerations

Table 2

Answers to the methodological questions by study.

Question/answers

Was a clear definition of the deafness given?

Were the methods adopted carefully described?

Were activity data sources carefully described?

Were activity data appropriately assessed?

Were the sources of all cost values analytically described?

Were unit costs appropriately valued?

Were costs sufficiently disaggregated?

Were the major assumptions tested in a sensitivity analysis?

Were costs discounted?

Was the presentation of study results consistent with the methology of the study?

Total score by study

Y

10

17

19

10

19

14

10

16

21

16

154

All studies

P

12

7

3

7

1

6

10

2

1

7

56

N

4

2

4

9

6

6

6

8

4

3

53

Y

Yes

Yes

4

O'Neill et al. [8]

P

P

P

P

3

N

No

No

No

No

No

5

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

8

Summerfield et al. [12]

P

P

P

2

N

0

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

7

Barton et al. [2]

P

P

P

P

3

N

0

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

9

Severens et al. [25]

P

0

N

No

1

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

5

Palmer et al. [20]

P

P

P

P

P

P

5

N

0

Y

Yes

Yes

2

Hutton et al. [7]

P

P

P

P

3

N

No

No

No

No

No

5

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

8

Schulze-Gattermann et al. [26]

P

P

P

2

N

0

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

7

Cheng et al. [16]

P

P

P

P

3

N

0

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

5

Wyatt et al. [21]

P

P

P

P

3

N

No

No

2

Y

Yes

Yes

2

Lee et al. [28]

P

P

P

P

3

N

No

No

No

No

No

5

Summerfield et al. [13]

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

7

P

P

P

P

3

N

0

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

6

Vantrappen et al. [27]

P

P

P

2

N

No

No

2

Y

Yes

1

Wong et al. [29]

P

0

N

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

9

Y

Yes

Yes

2

Bichey et al. [15]

P

P

P

P

3

N

No

No

No

No

No

5

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

6

Wyatt et al. [22]

P

P

P

P

3

N

No

1

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

6

Summerfield et al. [10]

P

P

P

2

N

No

No

2

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

6

Francis et al. [17]

P

P

P

P

3

N

No

1

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

8

Carter and Hailey [23]

P

P

P

2

N

0

Y

Yes

1

Koch et al. [19]

P

P

P

P

P

0

N

No

No

No

No

No

5

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

10

Barton et al. [4]

P

0

N

0

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

7

Molinier et al. [24]

P

P

1

N

No

No

2

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

5

Sach et al. [9]

P

P

P

2

N

No

No

No

3

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

4

Barton et al. [5]

P

P

P

2

N

No

No

No

No

4

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

8

Barton et al. [3]

P

P

P

0

N

0

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

10

UK CISG [14]

P

0

N

0

Y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

10

Bond et al. [6]

P

0

N

0

Total score by study is the sum of answers.
P: partially; Y: Yes; N: No.