The underreporting of cost perspective in cost-analysis research: a systematic review of the plastic surgery literature

Cost-analysis research can influence healthcare policies and practices. There is inherent bias depending on the chosen cost perspective (hospital, third-party payer, societal), and conclusions can change based on the perspective used. These perspectives may or may not be well declared or justified when performing cost analysis research. The goal of this study was to perform a literature review of cost-analysis research in the Plastic Surgery literature to determine the prevalence of studies declaring and justifying their perspective, and to inform the reader on why such declarations are important in understanding potential bias.