The easy thing is to memorize this chart and pick out the keywords from the questions. These are easy to get correct.
Method:
| Cost-minimization | Drugs are equal | Only cost is considered. For example, choosing which ACEI goes on the formulary | |
| Cost-effectiveness | Drugs are not equal, $$$ | Looking at outcomes (decrease in BP, decrease in glucose). For example, deciding between classes like ARBs and ACEIs. | |
| Cost-benefit | Used to evaluate programs, not drugs | Outcome expressed as benefit: cost | |
| Cost-utility | Looking at life years | Usually expressed in QALYs (quality-adjusted life years) |