Resource use measurement is known to be a challenging and time-consuming, but essential step in economic evaluations of health care interventions. Measuring true quantities of resources utilized is of major importance for generating valid costing estimates. As consequence of the absence of a gold standard and of acknowledged guidelines, the choice of a measurement method is often based on practicality instead of methodological evidence. An overview of resource use measurement issues is currently lacking. Such overview could enhance clearance in the quality of resource use measurement methods in economic evaluations and may facilitate to opt for evidence based measurement methods in the future. This study aims to provide an overview of methodological evidence regarding resource use measurement issues in economic evaluations.

Literature was searched by three different methods. First, a search strategy was used in six different databases. Second, the Database of Instruments for Resource Use Measurement (DIRUM) was hand-searched. Third, experts from six different European Union countries within the field of health economics were asked to provide relevant studies. Data was analyzed according to the Resource Use Measurement Issues (RUMI-) framework, which was developed for this study.

Of the 3,478 articles provided in the initial search, 77 were fully analyzed. An overview with evidence is provided for every resource use measurement issue. Most research focused around the issue ‘how to measure’, in particular the effect of self-reported data versus administrative data. In contrast, little to no research has been done on issues ‘what to measure’ and ‘for which purpose to measure’.

Results of this study provide insight in the effect of a chosen measurement method. The results stress the importance of measuring the true quantities of resources utilized for generating valid costing estimates. Furthermore, this article highlights the lack of evidence in appropriate resource use measurement methods.