What types of statistical methods can be utilized to control for treatment effects?
• What potential types of bias exist in retrospective database analyses? • What alternative methods for assessing selection bias are available? • How can transparency be ensured in retrospective database analyses? 1. What research questions can be answered by retrospective database analyses? The types of economic studies that can be conducted using automated databases include cost- consequence, cost-effectiveness, and cost-of-illness analyses. Currently, cost-utility analyses are rarely addressed due to the lack of utility data captured in databases. Of paramount importance to utilizing retrospective database analysis for health economic evaluations is the careful crafting of the research question. This question must be derived at the outset from the perspective of the appropriate parties, and such perspective may include society, the provider, the payer or the patient. Crafting the question is critical to the success of a project since it drives all other aspects of the research proje
