Table 1 Example search for MEDLINE database to identify health economic evaluation literature in orthotics and/or prosthetics

1

MeSH

Exp Artificial Limbs/

2

MeSH

Exp Amputation/

3

MeSH

Exp Amputees/

4

MeSH

Exp Orthotic Devices/

5

MeSH

Exp Cost-benefit Analysis/

6

MeSH

Exp Costs and Cost Analysis/

7

MeSH

Exp Economic Evaluation/

8

MeSH

Exp Quality-adjusted life years/

9

MeSH

Exp Dentistry/

10

(OR/1–8) NOT 9

11

Intervention

ti, ab, kw

prosthe* OR orthot* OR orthos#s OR splint* OR brace* OR bracing

12

Outcome—general health economic terms

ti, ab, kw

((economic ADJ1 (impact OR value OR factor* OR analysis OR cost OR evaluation*)) OR (cost* ADJ1 (health care OR hospital OR medical)))

13

Outcome—health economic evaluation type

ti, ab, kw

(cost* ADJ1 (util* OR effective* OR efficacy* OR effic* OR benefit* OR consequence* OR analy* OR minimi* OR comparison OR saving* OR breakdown OR lowering OR estimate* OR variable* or allocation OR control))

14

Outcome—health economic measure used

ti, ab, kw

(((value OR values OR valuation) ADJ2 (money OR monetary OR life OR lives OR costs OR cost)) OR (quality-adjusted life ADJ1 (year* OR expectanc*)) OR (quality adjusted life ADJ1 (year* OR expectanc*)) OR (QOLY* OR QALY* OR QALE*))

15

10 AND 11 AND (OR/12–14)

16

Exclusion

ti

[15] NOT (breast OR fracture* OR arthrop* OR angiop* OR transplant* OR heart OR aort* OR valve* OR stent* OR retina* OR ocular OR hernia OR erect* OR carcinoma OR disc OR (total OR replacement* ADJ2 (hip OR knee OR ankle OR joint OR vascular)) OR (implant* ADJ2 cochlear) OR (cost ADJ3 (walking OR energy OR metabolic)))

17

Limit 16 to English language