Carer quality of life in NICE guidance

NICE’s health technology evaluations manual specifies that the reference case perspective on outcomes includes “all health effects, whether for patients or, when relevant, carers”. However, it provides minimal guidance on methods for incorporating carer health effects (section 4.3.17). 

Carer health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was one of the areas examined in NICE’s health technology evaluations methods review that resulted in the current manual. A task and finish group reviewed the evidence available at the time and produced a draft list of minimum evidence requirements (see report). However, it was concluded that more research was needed for NICE to issue detailed methods guidance in this area. 

NICE’s Modular updates Selection and Oversight Panel (MSOP) recently concluded that producing clearer guidance on when and how to incorporate carer HRQoL in economic evaluations is a high priority. It is hoped that this will lead to more consistent and higher quality evidence being submitted and give committees clearer grounds for accepting or rejecting proposals.

This project will provide NICE with an up-to-date overview of the evidence. The intention is to use this information as the basis for a modular update to the manual, providing more detailed guidance on when and how to incorporate carer HRQoL.

DSU Report

Carers’ health-related quality of life in NICE guidance 

This report reviews the recent literature on carers’ HRQoL and NICE case studies, to provide a series of recommendations and future research priorities.