In social care research economic evaluation has had limited role in informing formal decision-making processes, in contrast to other health related areas. However, increasing research funding and policy interest is occurring, including regarding the role of cost-effectiveness decision modelling.
Working with experts in social care and decisioning modelling we have been exploring why cost-effectiveness decision modelling can be informative in a social care setting, how it can and has previously been implemented, and what next steps are needed to ensure consistent, robust, and informative models are produced to inform social care decisions.
Through a review of the relevant literature we identified that cost-effectiveness decision modelling in social care is relatively undeveloped with only a few examples identified and minimal methodological research in the area. These studies varied greatly in the approaches taken but demonstrate the practicality and value of decision modelling.
