Department of Economics:
PhD in Economics
Clinical health researchers often try to answer questions that compare specific treatments or therapies. As part of this, there are important qualitative outcomes that go along with these primary questions, and that’s where economists can come in.
My colleagues and I are collaborating with researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) to help the clinical team understand how a change in a child’s length of stay in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU) affects other factors beyond direct costs. For example, we are trying to determine if “one day less” in the ICU will result in improved patient flow and decreased wait times for elective surgeries. In addition, are there qualitative measures that can capture the reduction in stress on a patient’s family when their child’s ICU stay is shortened?
In economics it is unusual to be able to collect prospective data for analysis. However, with this study, we have been fortunate to collect real time data that we plan to use in building a general framework or template for the evaluation of economic outcomes in clinical trials. The potential for this framework to be used in other clinical settings is very exciting.
My interest in this project began with a graduate course in research methods. With the subsequent guidance provided by my supervisor, Professor Lynda Khalaf, I have been able to develop the mathematical and statistical skills needed to answer more involved questions that are relevant in the field of health and have also allowed me to develop exciting collaborations for the future.
Friday, September 9, 2016 in Department of Economics, Economy, FPA Voices, People
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