Health Technology Assessment in Epilepsy: Economic Evaluations and Preference Studies

A proper comparative assessment of costs, clinical effects and quality of life is needed due to an increase in healthcare costs. This dissertation describes research carried out into quality of life of patients suffering from epilepsy, preferences as to epilepsy diagnostics, cost of side effects and cost-effectiveness of the ketogenic diet, a treatment method for children suffering from epilepsy in whom drugs are not sufficiently effective. In order to support parents and children in following the diet a special ‘recipe website’ (ketogeenmenu.nl) was developed. After four months, seizure frequency was reduced by more than 50% in half of the children following the diet. In the control group, this result was achieved in only 18.2% of the children. However, no conclusive evidence was found regarding the cost-effectiveness of the ketogenic diet.