Table 1.

Type of economic cost studies in rehabilitation.

Cost minimization	Studies comparing the cost of providing rehabilitation with technological devices against the cost of providing conventional therapy.
Cost effectiveness	Studies comparing the cost of providing rehabilitation with technological devices against the cost of providing conventional therapy; the outcome is presented as the relative cost to achieve a unit of effect.
Cost utility	Studies comparing the cost of providing rehabilitation with technological devices against the cost of providing conventional therapy; the outcome is presented as the relative cost to achieve a unit of utility, which is measured in quality-adjusted life-years (QALY).
Cost benefit	Studies comparing the cost of providing rehabilitation with technological devices against the cost of providing conventional therapy; the outcome is presented as the relative cost to achieve a unit of benefit, which is measured in direct and undirect monetary units.

Modified from [14].