An Analysis of the Plastic Surgery Cost-Utility Literature Using a Novel Scoring Tool (original) (raw)

This study presents a novel scoring tool developed to analyze the design quality of cost-utility studies in plastic surgery, an area notably underexplored despite its potential for enhancing decision-making in treatment options. The research highlights the overall shortcomings in the application of cost-utility analyses across existing literature, with only 1 out of 37 evaluated publications achieving a high score, indicating significant inconsistencies in methodology. The findings suggest that higher adherence to established scoring criteria could lead to improved resource allocation and more objective decision-making in elective plastic surgery.