| 1. |
- Dozet, Alexander, et al.
(author)
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Health care for the elderly: two cases of technology diffusion.
- 2002
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In: Social Science and Medicine. - 1873-5347 .- 0277-9536. ; 54:1, s. 49-64
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Diffusion of medical technology and the growing proportion of elderly people in the population are generally regarded as major contributors to the increasing health care expenditure in the industrialised world. This study explores the importance of one specific factor in this process, the change in the use of technology among elderly patients. In some instances, a new technology is first used among younger patients and then gradually extended to the elderly. Two such cases are studied, both representing costly procedures: coronary bypass surgery (treatment of coronary heart disease) and dialysis (treatment of uraemia). In both cases, we demonstrate significant diffusion to older age groups. It is also tentatively concluded that the diffusion of technology could have an important effect on per capita health care expenditure among the oldest of the old.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Hansen, Fredrik, et al.
(author)
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The future of health economics: the potential of behavioral and experimental econmics
- 2015
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In: Nordic Journal of Health Economics. - : University of Oslo. - 1892-9729 .- 1892-9710. ; 3, s. 68-86
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Health care systems around the globe are facing great challenges. The demand for health care is increasing due to the continuous development of new medical technologies, changing demographics, increasing income levels, and greater expectations from patients. The possibilities and willingness to expand health care resources, however, are limited. Consequently, health care organizations are increasingly required to take economic restrictions into account, and there is an urgent need for improved efficiency. It is reasonable to ask whether the health economics field of today is prepared and equipped to help us meet these challenges. Our aim with this article is twofold: to introduce the fields of behavioral and experimental economics and to then identify and characterize health economics areas where these two fields have a promising potential. We also discuss the advantages of a pluralistic view in health economics research, and we anticipate a dynamic future for health economics.
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| 4. |
- Lundborg, Petter, et al.
(author)
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The Effect of Schooling on Mortality : New Evidence From 50,000 Swedish Twins
- 2016
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In: Demography. - : Duke University Press. - 0070-3370 .- 1533-7790. ; 53:4, s. 1135-1168
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- By using historical data on about 50,000 twins born in Sweden during 1886–1958, we demonstrate a positive and statistically significant relationship between years of schooling and longevity. This relation remains almost unchanged when exploiting a twin fixed-effects design to control for the influence of genetics and shared family background. This result is robust to controlling for within-twin-pair differences in early-life health and cognitive ability, as proxied by birth weight and height, as well as to restricting the sample to MZ twins. The relationship is fairly constant over time but becomes weaker with age. Literally, our results suggest that compared with low levels of schooling (less than 10 years), high levels of schooling (at least 13 years of schooling) are associated with about three years longer life expectancy at age 60 for the considered birth cohorts. The real societal value of schooling may hence extend beyond pure labor market and economic growth returns. From a policy perspective, schooling may therefore be a vehicle for improving longevity and health, as well as equality along these dimensions.
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| 5. |
- Nystedt, Paul, et al.
(author)
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Age diffusion never stops? Carotid endarterectomy among the elderly
- 2003
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In: Applied Health Economics and Health Policy. - : Adis International. - 1179-1896 .- 1175-5652. ; 2:1, s. 3-7
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In view of the rising proportion of elderly in the population, diffusion of medical technologies to the elderly is a particularly interesting phenomenon, with respect to both quality of life and health care costs. Using data on all carotid endarterectomies (CEAs) performed in Sweden, we explore the pattern of age diffusion 1982-1999. The overall rates of CEA are considerably lower in Sweden than in the US and Canada, possibly reflecting the different reimbursement systems. At the same time, the responses from the health-care sectors in the three countries to the scientific literature seem to have been qualitatively very similar. Prominent age diffusion - a relative shift of procedure rates towards elderly patients - is demonstrated for the whole period, both when overall treatment rates are increasing, when they are declining, and when they remain relatively constant. Furthermore, in Sweden (contrary to what was the case North America) there was not just a relative shift, but treatment rates actually increased among the 75+ when overall rates were declining, perhaps indicating a previous resource constraint on extending treatment to this age group. There are differences in levels of treatment rates between men and women but the pattern of age diffusion appears strikingly gender-neutral.
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