BEYOND COST AND QALYS: INTEGRATING THE APP SCORE TO IMPROVE COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF DIGITAL HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES
Author(s)
Navya Khanna, MSc, Anubhav Patel, MSc, John Cook, PhD.
Peritia, Morrisville, NC, USA.
Peritia, Morrisville, NC, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Digital Health Technologies (DHTs) are gaining broad population reach and are projected to triple in market size by 2028. Unlike drugs, assessing the value of DHTs demands a broader perspective that includes the user experience with the app. Incorporating additional factors into the DHT assessment, however, has presented a challenge. This study proposes 3 novel approaches to enable a more comprehensive cost-effectiveness (CE) analysis of DHTs.
METHODS: Approach 1: Use the app score (based on user reviews from real-world setting or clinical trial) with the incremental cost and incremental QALYs) to create a 3D plot (incremental cost-incremental QALYs-app score)., Approach 2: Establish a relationship between app score and ICER, adjust ICER based on the change in rating. Alternatively, link the score to the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold, allowing higher WTP for highly rated apps, and base the decision using the adjusted ICER or WTP. Approach 3: If QALYs are obtained without considering the user experience of the DHTs, a utility adjustment factor based on the app's overall performance (based on relevant studies or clinical trials) can be used. The factor can then be applied while calculating the final QALYs.
RESULTS: The approaches incorporated app score into DHT evaluation. Approach 1 directly selected the higher-rated app, given ICER was below the WTP threshold. Approach 2 and 3 updated the WTP/ICER for highly rated apps. The methods reduced/increased the ICER/WTP depending upon the relationship established. All approaches provide a structured, transparent mechanism to incorporate user experience while evaluating the DHTs.
CONCLUSIONS: The proposed approaches enable DHT evaluation beyond cost and QALYs by incorporating user-centric factors, which may alter the acceptability of apps. Required relationships must be established and validated with real-world data, clinical trials, or other preference studies. Overall, the approaches offer a robust, decision-relevant framework for DHT assessment.
METHODS: Approach 1: Use the app score (based on user reviews from real-world setting or clinical trial) with the incremental cost and incremental QALYs) to create a 3D plot (incremental cost-incremental QALYs-app score)., Approach 2: Establish a relationship between app score and ICER, adjust ICER based on the change in rating. Alternatively, link the score to the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold, allowing higher WTP for highly rated apps, and base the decision using the adjusted ICER or WTP. Approach 3: If QALYs are obtained without considering the user experience of the DHTs, a utility adjustment factor based on the app's overall performance (based on relevant studies or clinical trials) can be used. The factor can then be applied while calculating the final QALYs.
RESULTS: The approaches incorporated app score into DHT evaluation. Approach 1 directly selected the higher-rated app, given ICER was below the WTP threshold. Approach 2 and 3 updated the WTP/ICER for highly rated apps. The methods reduced/increased the ICER/WTP depending upon the relationship established. All approaches provide a structured, transparent mechanism to incorporate user experience while evaluating the DHTs.
CONCLUSIONS: The proposed approaches enable DHT evaluation beyond cost and QALYs by incorporating user-centric factors, which may alter the acceptability of apps. Required relationships must be established and validated with real-world data, clinical trials, or other preference studies. Overall, the approaches offer a robust, decision-relevant framework for DHT assessment.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
MT20
Topic
Medical Technologies
Topic Subcategory
Digital Health
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas