Targeted literature review on NICE’s preferred method for incorporating caregiver decrements in an appraisal

Our client was looking for a partner to help identify previous NICE technology appraisals where caregiver quality of life decrements or other impacts, and/or sibling impact, had been accepted or considered important by NICE. The project aimed to summarise past successes and review possible methodologies for generating utility decrements and implementing those in the health economic model.

We conducted a review of NICE appraisals and the broader literature to identify instances where family (carers, parents, siblings, etc.) impact had been accepted by NICE. A findings report, including an overview of the methodology used to generate utility decrement, was included in the health economic model.

The project provided the client with comprehensive insights regarding how caregiver-related quality of life impacts have been recognised and integrated by NICE in previous appraisals. The final findings and recommendations enabled the client to align their health economic models with NICE’s expectations, thereby improving the chances of their appraisal success and enhancing the quality of their submissions. A follow-up project to publish the findings has been commissioned by the client.