ABSTRACT
This chapter contains some sections of a more technical nature. Sections 8.1 through 8.3 are more practical, with some sample size formulae and several examples. Sections 8.4 and 8.5 focus on the factors affecting the sample size for cost-effectiveness trials presented in the context of both frequentist and Bayesian methodology. Section 8.6 provides examples of sample sizes in a Bayesian context, and Sections 8.7 and 8.8 discuss further advanced issues. However, despite complex Bayesian computations, a Windows-based application (SCET-VA-version 1.0®) is available free of charge from the author on request. For researchers who wish to simply calculate the sample size required for specific inputs, without wanting to know more about mathematical derivations, Sections 8.1 through 8.3 are adequate. Section 8.9 covers value of information (VOI) methods.
