Health policy analysis
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Our research methods help policy makers make fairer decisions with better health outcomes.

The problem. Existing analyses focus on a mythical average citizen.

The solution. We develop ways of analysing who gains and loses from health policies.
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The EQUIPOL project: making fairer decisions for public health
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Want to know more about the EQUIPOL project? What is an Equity Impact Plane and how can we use it to help measure equity in health policy? Watch our short animation for more detail.
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Monitoring Fairness in the NHS
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Handbook of Distributional Cost-effectiveness analysis
The Oxford University Press Handbook of Distributional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis is an all-in-one guide to analysing health equity impacts and trade-offs in any decision context, for researchers, research commissioners and research users. Further details on book purchasing and supporting materials can be found here.

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2020
Journeys to HIV testing and diagnosis among adults aged 50+ years in England: a qualitative interview study
Bell, S., Doran, T., Martin, F. & Adamson, J. A., 2 Dec 2020Article in Journal of Health Services Research & Policy
Publication details
Journal | Journal of Health Services Research & Policy |
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Date | E-pub ahead of print - 2 Dec 2020 |
Original language | English |
Abstract
In England, older adults (aged ≥50 years) are at greater risk of being diagnosed with advanced stage HIV infection than younger adults. We explored journeys to testing and diagnosis among older adults, examining factors associated with late HIV diagnosis in this age group.
Methods
Semi-structured qualitative interviews were performed with 12 adults diagnosed with HIV at age 50+ years and 12 health care professionals working in sexual health/HIV services. Data were analysed thematically, using the Model of Pathways to Treatment as a framework for analysis.
Results
Older adults were often found to experience non-linear and complex diagnostic journeys. Pathways to diagnosis were affected by 6 factors: (i) the non-specific nature of HIV symptoms and their misattribution as being age-related; (ii) symptom severity, impact, and visibility; (iii) HIV health literacy; (iv) perceptions of HIV risk; (v) geographical location; and (vi) assessment in non-specialist settings.
Conclusions
Older adults appear to encounter additional barriers to HIV testing compared with younger people, particularly when they are not part of a group targeted in HIV prevention and testing campaigns. To diagnose HIV more promptly in adults aged 50+ years, HIV knowledge and risk perception must increase in both older people and health care professionals. Health care professionals need to look beyond the ‘high risk’ groups that are most affected by HIV and consider HIV more readily in the diagnostic process.
Keywords HIV, older people, HIV testing
Bibliographical note
© The Author(s) 2020
Distributional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis comes of age
Cookson, R. A., Griffin, S., Norheim, O. F., Culyer, A. J. & Chalkidou, K., 7 Nov 2020Article in Value in Health
Publication details
Journal | Value in Health |
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Date | Accepted/In press - 1 Oct 2020 |
Date | E-pub ahead of print (current) - 7 Nov 2020 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Early online date | 7/11/20 |
Original language | English |
Abstract
Distributional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (DCEA) provides information about the equity impacts of health technologies and programmes
It can provide distributional breakdowns of effects and opportunity costs by equity-relevant social variables and/or disease categories
It can also use equity weights to summarise equity impacts and analyse trade-offs between equity and efficiency
This editorial describes recent developments in DCEA
New training resources and professional networks are provided
Bibliographical note
This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy.
Quality Adjusted Life Years Based on Health and Consumption: A Summary Wellbeing Measure for Cross-Sectoral Economic Evaluation
Skarda, I., Cookson, R. A., Cotton-Barrett, O., Adler, M., Asaria, M. & Toby, O., 22 Oct 2020Article in Health Economics
Publication details
Journal | Health Economics |
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Date | Accepted/In press - 24 Aug 2020 |
Date | E-pub ahead of print (current) - 22 Oct 2020 |
Number of pages | 16 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-16 |
Early online date | 22/10/20 |
Original language | English |
Abstract
Bibliographical note
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details.
EQUIPOL is supported by the University of York, the Wellcome Trust (Grant No. 205427/Z/16/Z) and the NIHR (SRF-2013-06-015).


