ScHARR ONLINE Course - Advanced Simulation Methods

Within healthcare decision-making, cohort Markov models and decision trees are frequently used. However, in some situations, these are not the most appropriate modelling methods. This course provides an in-depth review of individual-level simulation rationale, techniques and methodologies with a particular focus on discrete event simulation and its practical application to inform healthcare decision-making. From the fundamentals of a basic model, the course will progress to modelling complex systems, verification and interpreting output, as well as exploring alternative software options. 

When?

Tuesday, 30th November - Thursday, 9th December 2021 (over 6 x half day sessions)

What does the course deliver?

This course aims to provide participants with the skills required to be able to undertake simulation projects to a professional level. It will be both theoretically-based and practically-based, with the use of the Simul8 software package. It will cover the use of discrete-event simulation to assess the impact of alternative options within a local system with resource constraints and the use of patient-level simulation for health economic modelling.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is primarily for health economic modellers who want to broaden their skill base, as well as healthcare decision-makers who would like to understand more about patient-level simulation and when it might be useful.

Participants must have a basic level of knowledge of health economic modelling in order to follow the course.

Course content:

The course will consist of a mixture of presentations and practical use of Simul8, both following the lecturer and within individual exercises.​

Faculty

Dr Hazel Squires is the current course leader for this ScHARR short course.

Professor Matt Stevenson

Sarah Davis

Dan Pollard

For more information and to book your place, please visit this page

New Project - The BLAST OFF Study

Sarah Davis

Sarah Davis is a co-investigator on The BLAST OFF  (Bisphosphonate aLternAtive regimenS for the prevenTion of Osteoporotic Fragility Fractures) Study.  The aim of the research is to determine the most effective, cost-effective, acceptable and safe alternative bisphosphonate treatment regimen(s) compared to oral Alendronate, in preventing osteoporotic fractures. 

 Alendronate is recommended as the first line treatment to prevent osteoporotic fractures, however long term adherence (both treatment compliance and persistence) is poor. Alternative bisphosphonates are available, which vary in frequency of use and/or route of administration, and have been shown to improve long-term adherence compared to oral alendronate. However, the most clinically effective and cost effective alternative regimen remains unclear. Furthermore, clinicians should optimise dosing regimens on the basis of the patient's understanding, preference and characteristics. 

What is the most cost-effective in clinical trials may not be the most cost-effective or acceptable to patients in everyday clinical practice. In addition to evaluating the most effective and cost-effective alternative bisphosphonate regimens based on current evidence, the project will use EVPI and qualitative research to produce a list of ranked prioritised recommendations for further research into the effectiveness and acceptability of bisphosphonate treatment regimens.

The project is being led by Nottingham University  with the economic component being led by Sarah Davis in HEDS, ScHARR. Additional collaborators are colleagues from Keele University, The National Osteoporosis Society and NHS clinicians. The project is funded by NIHR HTA.

The economic component of the project will use the Sheffield Osteoporosis Model, which was developed to inform NICE Guidance on the use of bisphosphonates to prevent fragility fracture

Sarah said: ''This project is important as the use of effective and cost-effective alternatives to alendronate will hopefully increase the number of patients persisting with treatment, and reduce the number of fragility fractures which are associated with considerable morbidity.''

Further information is available at: https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/hta/NIHR127550/#/documentation