Qualitative Methods for Health Economics

Qualitative methods are increasingly used within health economics research, but there is almost no specific material to guide the use of these methods in this context; there is very little that links them to the specific questions that (health) economists ask or that provides guidance on analyzing from an ‘economic’ or ‘resource-focused’ perspective.

Whilst the main themes within the book will look very similar to those in many other texts on qualitative research methods, they will:
Apply the concepts familiar from qualitative methods to health economics issues in a way that is meaningful in this specific context; Work within an economic analytical approach where the analytic focus is on issues around scarcity and resource allocation; Incorporate examples that are relevant to health economists grappling with resource allocation problems in health care.

Author Biography

Joanna Coast is a Professor in the Economics of Health & Care at the University of Bristol. She has published numerous papers on the role and implementation of qualitative methods in health economics and one of her main research areas is in end of life care.