Cost-effectiveness of direct discharge from the emergency department of patients with simple stable injuries in the Netherlands

BackgroundApproximately one-third of musculoskeletal injuries are simple stable injuries (SSIs). Direct discharge (DD) from the emergency department (ED) of patients with SSIs reduces healthcare utilization, without compromising patient outcome and experience, when compared with “traditional” care with routine follow-up. This study aimed to determine the cost-effectiveness of DD compared with traditional care from a societal perspective.MethodsSocietal costs, including healthcare, work absenteeism, and travel costs, were calculated for patients with an SSI, 6 months before (pre-DD cohort) and after implementation of DD (DD cohort). The pre-DD cohort was treated according to local protocols. The DD cohort was treated using orthoses, discharge leaflet, smartphone application, and telephone helpline, without scheduling routine follow-up. Effect measures included generic health-related quality of life (HR-QoL; EuroQol Five-Dimensional Questionnaire); disease-specific HR-QoL (functional outcome, different validated questionnaires, converted to 0–100 scale); treatment satisfaction (Visual Analog Scale (VAS), 1–10); and pain (VAS, 1–10). All data were assessed using a 3-month postinjury survey and electronic patient records. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated and uncertainty was assessed using bootstrapping techniques.ResultsBefore DD, 144 of 348 participants completed the survey versus 153 of 371 patients thereafter. There were no statistically significant differences between the pre-DD cohort and the DD cohort for generic HR-QoL (0.03; 95% CI −0.01 to 0.08), disease-specific HR-QoL (4.4; 95% CI −1.1 to 9.9), pain (0.08; 95% CI −0.37 to 0.52) and treatment satisfaction (−0.16; 95% CI −0.53 to 0.21). Total societal costs were lowest in the DD cohort (−€822; 95% CI −€1719 to −€67), including healthcare costs (−€168; 95% CI −€205 to −€131) and absenteeism costs (−€645; 95% CI −€1535 to €100). The probability of DD being cost-effective was 0.98 at a willingness-to-pay of €0 for all effect measures, remaining high with increasing willingness-to-pay for generic HR-QoL, disease-specific HR-QoL, and pain, and decreasing with increasing willingness-to-pay for treatment satisfaction.DiscussionDD from the ED of patients with SSI seems cost-effective from a societal perspective. Future studies should test generalizability in other healthcare systems and strengthen findings in larger injury-specific cohorts.Level of evidenceII.

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Cost‐Effectiveness of Advanced Neuroimaging for Transient and Minor Neurological Events in the Emergency Department

Journal of the American Heart Association ◽

10.1161/jaha.120.019001 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ava L. Liberman ◽

Hui Zhang ◽

Sara K. Rostanski ◽

Natalie T. Cheng ◽

Charles C. Esenwa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Willingness To Pay ◽

Incremental Cost ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Neurological Symptoms ◽

Low Risk ◽

Sensitivity Analyses

Background Accurate diagnosis of patients with transient or minor neurological events can be challenging. Recent studies suggest that advanced neuroimaging can improve diagnostic accuracy in low‐risk patients with transient or minor neurological symptoms, but a cost‐effective emergency department diagnostic evaluation strategy remains uncertain. Methods and Results We constructed a decision‐analytic model to evaluate 2 diagnostic evaluation strategies for patients with low‐risk transient or minor neurological symptoms: (1) obtain advanced neuroimaging (magnetic resonance imaging brain and magnetic resonance angiography head and neck) on every patient or (2) current emergency department standard‐of‐care clinical evaluation with basic neuroimaging. Main probability variables were: proportion of patients with true ischemic events, strategy specificity and sensitivity, and recurrent stroke rate. Direct healthcare costs were included. We calculated incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios, conducted sensitivity analyses, and evaluated various diagnostic test parameters primarily using a 1‐year time horizon. Cost‐effectiveness standards would be met if the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio was less than willingness to pay. We defined willingness to pay as $100 000 US dollars per quality‐adjusted life year. Our primary and sensitivity analyses found that the advanced neuroimaging strategy was more cost‐effective than emergency department standard of care. The incremental effectiveness of the advanced neuroimaging strategy was slightly less than the standard‐of‐care strategy, but the standard‐of‐care strategy was more costly. Potentially superior diagnostic approaches to the modeled advanced neuroimaging strategy would have to be >92% specific, >70% sensitive, and cost less than or equal to standard‐of‐care strategy’s cost. Conclusions Obtaining advanced neuroimaging on emergency department patient with low‐risk transient or minor neurological symptoms was the more cost‐effective strategy in our model.

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Clinical and cost-effectiveness of the Ross procedure versus conventional aortic valve replacement in young adults

Open Heart ◽

10.1136/openhrt-2019-001047 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e001047 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Howard Thom ◽

Alexandru Ciprian Visan ◽

Edna Keeney ◽

Dan Mihai Dorobantu ◽

Daniel Fudulu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Aortic Valve ◽

Willingness To Pay ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Ross Procedure ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Ross Operation ◽

Incremental Qalys ◽

Middle Aged Adults

ObjectivesIn young and middle-aged adults, there are three current options for aortic valve replacement (AVR), namely mechanical AVR (mechAVR), tissue AVR (biological AVR) and the Ross operation, with no clear guidance on the best option. We aim to compare the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Ross procedure with conventional AVR in young and middle-aged adults.MethodsThis is a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of AVR options. Markov multistate model was adopted to compare cost-effectiveness. Lifetime costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), net monetary benefit (NMB), population expected value of perfect information (EVPI) and expected value of partial perfect information were estimated.ResultsWe identified 48 cohorts with a total number of 12 975 patients (mean age 44.5 years, mean follow-up 7.1 years). Mortality, bleeding and thromboembolic events over the follow-up period were lowest after the Ross operation, compared with mechAVR and biological AVR (p<0.001). Aortic reoperation rates were lower after Ross compared with biological AVR, but slightly higher when compared with mechAVR (p<0.001). At a willingness-to-pay threshold of £20effective. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of £20, 000 per QALY000 per QALY, the Ross procedure is more cost-effective compared the Ross procedure is more cost-effective compared withwith conventional AVR, with a lifetime incremental NMB of £60 conventional AVR, with a lifetime incremental NMB of £60 952 (952 (££3030 236236 to to ££7979 464). Incremental costs were £12464). Incremental costs were £12 323 (323 (££61086108 to to ££1515 972) and incremental QALYs 3.66 (1.81972) and incremental QALYs 3.66 (1.81 to to 4.76). The population EVPI indicates that a trial costing up to £2.03 million could be cost 4.76). The population EVPI indicates that a trial costing up to £2.03 million could be cost--effective.At a willingness-to-pay threshold of £20 000 per QALY, the Ross procedure is more cost-effective compared with conventional AVR, with a lifetime incremental NMB of £60 952 (£30 236 to £79 464). Incremental costs were £12 323 (£6108 to £15 972) and incremental QALYs 3.66 (1.81 to 4.76). The population EVPI indicates that a trial costing up to £2.03 million could be cost-effective.ConclusionsIn young and middle-aged adults with aortic valve disease, the Ross procedure may confer greater quality of life and be more cost-effective than conventional AVR. A high-quality randomised trial could be warranted and cost-effective.

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Cost-effectiveness of internet-based vestibular rehabilitation with and without physiotherapy support for adults aged 50 and older with a chronic vestibular syndrome in general practice

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035583 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. e035583

Author(s):

Vincent A van Vugt ◽

Judith E Bosmans ◽

Aureliano P Finch ◽

Johannes C van der Wouden ◽

Henriëtte E van der Horst ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Practice ◽

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Willingness To Pay ◽

Short Form ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Vestibular Rehabilitation ◽

Symptom Scale ◽

Societal Costs ◽

Life Years

ObjectivesTo evaluate the cost-effectiveness of stand-alone and blended internet-based vestibular rehabilitation (VR) in comparison with usual care (UC) for chronic vestibular syndromes in general practice.DesignEconomic evaluation alongside a three-armed, individually randomised controlled trial.Setting59 Dutch general practices.Participants322 adults, aged 50 years and older with a chronic vestibular syndrome.InterventionsStand-alone VR consisted of a 6-week, internet-based intervention with weekly online sessions and daily exercises. In blended VR, this intervention was supplemented with face-to-face physiotherapy support. UC group participants received usual general practice care without restrictions.Main outcome measuresSocietal costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), Vertigo Symptom Scale—Short Form (VSS-SF), clinically relevant response (≥3 points VSS-SF improvement).ResultsMean societal costs in both the stand-alone and blended VR groups were statistically non-significantly higher than in the UC group (mean difference (MD) €504, 95% CI −1082 to 2268; and €916, 95% CI −663 to 2596). Both stand-alone and blended VR groups reported non-significantly more QALYs than the UC group (MD 0.02, 95% CI −0.00 to 0.04; and 0.01, 95% CI −0.01 to 0.03), and significantly better VSS-SF Scores (MD 3.8 points, 95% CI 1.7 to 6.0; and 3.3 points, 95% CI 1.3 to 5.2). For stand-alone VR compared with UC, the probability of cost-effectiveness was 0.95 at a willingness-to-pay ratio of €24 161/QALY, €600/point improvement in VSS-SF and €8000/clinically relevant responder in VSS-SF. For blended VR versus UC, the probability of cost-effectiveness was 0.95 at a willingness-to-pay ratio of €123 335/QALY, €900/point improvement in VSS-SF and €24 000/clinically relevant responder in VSS-SF.ConclusionStand-alone and blended internet-based VR non-significantly increased QALYs and significantly reduced vestibular symptoms compared with UC, while costs in both groups were non-significantly higher. Stand-alone VR has the highest probability to be cost-effective compared with UC.Trial registration numberThe Netherlands Trial Register NTR5712.

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447 Cost-Effectiveness of a 3-Year Tele-OSA Intervention

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab072.446 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. A177-A177

Author(s):

Jaejin An ◽

Dennis Hwang ◽

Jiaxiao Shi ◽

Amy Sawyer ◽

Aiyu Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Willingness To Pay ◽

Incremental Cost ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Small Sample ◽

Apnea Hypopnea Index ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Group 2 ◽

The Cost

Abstract Introduction Trial-based tele-obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) cost-effectiveness analyses have often been inconclusive due to small sample sizes and short follow-up. In this study, we report the cost-effectiveness of Tele-OSA using a larger sample from a 3-month trial that was augmented with 2.75 additional years of epidemiologic follow-up. Methods The Tele-OSA study was a 3-month randomized trial conducted in Kaiser Permanente Southern California that demonstrated improved adherence in patients receiving automated feedback messaging regarding their positive airway pressure (PAP) use when compared to usual care. At the end of the 3 months, participants in the intervention group pseudo-randomly either stopped or continued receiving messaging. This analysis included those participants who had moderate-severe OSA (Apnea Hypopnea Index >=15) and compared the cost-effectiveness of 3 groups: 1) no messaging, 2) messaging for 3 months only, and 3) messaging for 3 years. Costs were derived by multiplying medical service use from electronic medical records times costs from Federal fee schedules. Effects were average nightly hours of PAP use. We report the incremental cost per incremental hour of PAP use as well as the fraction acceptable. Results We included 256 patients with moderate-severe OSA (Group 1, n=132; Group 2, n=79; Group 3, n=45). Group 2, which received the intervention for 3 months only, had the highest costs and fewest hours of use and was dominated by the other two groups. Average 1-year costs for groups 1 and 3 were $6035 (SE, $477) and $6154 (SE, $575), respectively; average nightly hours of PAP use were 3.07 (SE, 0.23) and 4.09 (SE, 0.42). Compared to no messaging, messaging for 3 years had an incremental cost ($119, p=0.86) per incremental hour of use (1.02, p=0.03) of $117. For a willingness-to-pay (WTP) of $500 per year ($1.37/night), 3-year messaging has a 70% chance of being acceptable. Conclusion Long-term Tele-OSA messaging was more effective than no messaging for PAP use outcomes but also highly likely cost-effective with an acceptable willingness-to-pay threshold. Epidemiologic evidence suggests that this greater use will yield both clinical and additional economic benefits. Support (if any) Tele-OSA study was supported by the AASM Foundation SRA Grant #: 104-SR-13

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Cost-effectiveness analysis of ranibizumab for retinal vein occlusion patients in China from the societal perspective

BMC Ophthalmology ◽

10.1186/s12886-021-01997-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Weiyi Ni ◽

Jia Liu ◽

Yawen Jiang ◽

Jing Wu

Keyword(s):

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Retinal Vein Occlusion ◽

Societal Perspective ◽

Laser Photocoagulation ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Gdp Per Capita ◽

Base Case ◽

Vein Occlusion ◽

Per Capita

Abstract Background Clinical trials in China have demonstrated that ranibizumab can improve the clinical outcomes of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). However, no economic evaluation of ranibizumab has been conducted among Chinese patient population. Methods To provide insights into the economic profile of ranibizumab among Chinese RVO population, a Markov state-transition model was used to predict the outcomes of ranibizumab comparing to laser photocoagulation and observational-only care from the societal perspective. This model simulated changes in patient visuality, quality-adjusted of life years (QALY), medical costs, and direct non-medical costs of individuals with visual impairment due to BRVO or CRVO in lifetime. The base-case analysis used an annual discount rate of 5% for costs and benefits following the China Guidelines for Pharmacoeconomic Evaluations. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the model. Results The base-case incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) comparing ranibizumab to laser photocoagulation was ¥65,008/QALY among BRVO patients and was ¥65,815/QALY among CRVO patients, respectively. Comparing to the 2019 gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of ¥71,000, both two ICERs were far below the cost-effective threshold at three times of GDP per capita (¥213,000). The deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses demonstrated the base-case results were robust in most of the simulation scenarios. Conclusion The current Markov model demonstrated that ranibizumab may be cost-effective compared with laser photocoagulation to treat BRVO and cost-effective compared to observation-only care to treat CRVO in China from the societal perspective.

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Cost-Effectiveness of Initial Revision Digit Amputation Performed in the Emergency Department Versus the Operating Room

Hand ◽

10.1177/1558944718790577 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 208-214 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Joseph A. Gil ◽

Avi D. Goodman ◽

Andrew P. Harris ◽

Neill Y. Li ◽

Arnold-Peter C. Weiss

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Operating Room ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Initial Management ◽

Fingertip Amputation ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Initial Procedure ◽

The Cost ◽

Cost Effectiveness Threshold

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the comparative cost-effectiveness of performing initial revision finger amputation in the emergency department (ED) versus in the operating room (OR) accounting for need for unplanned secondary revision in the OR. Methods: We retrospectively examined patients presenting to the ED with traumatic finger and thumb amputations from January 2010 to December 2015. Only those treated with primarily revision amputation were included. Following initial management, the need for unplanned reoperation was assessed and associated with setting of initial management. A sensitivity analysis was used to determine the cost-effectiveness threshold for initial management in the ED versus the OR. Results: Five hundred thirty-seven patients had 677 fingertip amputations, of whom 91 digits were initially primarily revised in the OR, and 586 digits were primarily revised in the ED. Following initial revision, 91 digits required unplanned secondary revision. The unplanned secondary revision rates were similar between settings: 13.7% digits from the ED and 12.1% of digits from the OR ( P = .57). When accounting for direct costs, an incidence of unplanned revision above 77.0% after initial revision fingertip amputation in the ED would make initial revision fingertip amputation in the OR cost-effective. Therefore, based on the unplanned secondary revision rate, initial management in the ED is more cost-effective than in the OR. Conclusions: There is no significant difference in the incidence of unplanned/secondary revision of fingertip amputation rate after the initial procedure was performed in the ED versus the OR.

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Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Large-Scale Crèche Intervention to Prevent Child Drowning in Rural Bangladesh

10.21203/rs.3.rs-402414/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Y. Natalia Alfonso ◽

Adnan A Hyder ◽

Olakunle Alonge ◽

Shumona Sharmin Salam ◽

Kamran Baset ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Societal Perspective ◽

Large Scale ◽

Operating Cost ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Program Cost ◽

Rural Bangladesh ◽

Life Years ◽

The Cost

Abstract Drowning is the leading cause of death among children 12-59 months old in rural Bangladesh. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a large-scale crèche intervention in preventing child drowning. Estimates of the effectiveness of the crèches was based on prior studies and the program cost was assessed using monthly program expenditures captured prospectively throughout the study period from two different implementing agencies. The study evaluated the cost-effectiveness from both a program and societal perspective. Results showed that from the program perspective the annual operating cost of a crèche was $416.35 (95%C.I.: $222 to $576), the annual cost per child was $16 (95%C.I.: $9 to $22) and the incremental-cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per life saved with the crèches was $17,803 (95%C.I.: $9,051 to $27,625). From the societal perspective (including parents time valued) the ICER per life saved was -$176,62 (95%C.I.: -$347,091 to -$67,684)—meaning crèches generated net economic benefits per child enrolled. Based on the ICER per disability-adjusted-life years averted from the societal perspective (excluding parents time), $2,020, the crèche intervention was cost-effective even when the societal economic benefits were ignored. Based on the evidence, the creche intervention has great potential for reducing child drowning at a cost that is reasonable.

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Cost-effectiveness analysis of pembrolizumab for BCG-unresponsive carcinoma in situ of the bladder.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2021.39.6_suppl.395 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (6_suppl) ◽

pp. 395-395

Author(s):

Vidit Sharma ◽

Kevin Wymer ◽

Christopher Saigal ◽

Karim Chamie ◽

Mark S. Litwin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sensitivity Analysis ◽

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Willingness To Pay ◽

Carcinoma In Situ ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Index Patient ◽

Price Reduction ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Effectiveness Analysis

395 Background: Patients with BCG-unresponsive carcinoma in situ (CIS) are treated with radical cystectomy (RCx) or salvage intravesical chemotherapy (SIC). Recently, the FDA approved pembrolizumab for BCG-unresponsive CIS +/- papillary tumors. Given the costs and toxicities of pembrolizumab, it remains unclear whether its benefits are sufficient to warrant widespread use for BCG-unresponsive CIS. To that end, we conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing pembrolizumab with RCx and SIC (using gemcitabine-docetaxel as the prototypical regimen) for patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS. Methods: A decision-analytic Markov model compared pembrolizumab, SIC (with gemcitabine-docetaxel), and RCx for patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS +/- papillary tumors who are RCx candidates (index patient 1) or are unwilling/unable to undergo RCx (index patient 2). Each treatment option was a Markov node containing distinct variations of the following health states: surveillance, recurrence, progression to MIBC, progression to metastasis, treatment toxicity, and death. Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratios (ICERs) were compared using a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100,000/Quality-adjusted life year (QALY). The model used a US Medicare perspective with a 5-year time horizon for the base case. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed for all model parameters. Results: For index patient 1, pembrolizumab was not cost-effective vs. RCx (ICER $1,403,008) or SIC (ICER $2,011,923). One-way sensitivity analysis revealed that pembrolizumab only became cost-effective relative to RCx with a > 93% price reduction. Relative to RCx, SIC was cost-effective for time horizons < 5 years and nearly cost-effective at 5 years (ICER $118,324). One-way sensitivity analysis revealed that SIC became cost-effective relative to RCx if its risk of recurrence or metastasis at 2 years was less than 55% or 5.9%, respectively. For index patient 2, pembrolizumab required > 90% price reduction to be cost-effective vs. RCx (ICER $1,073,240). Probabilistic sensitivity analyses revealed that pembrolizumab was unlikely to be cost-effective even at high willingness-to-pay thresholds. Further sensitivity analyses found that no two-way combination of extrapolated values resulted in pembrolizumab being favored over RCx or SIC for either index patient. Conclusions: Based on decision-analytic Markov modeling of treatment options for patients with BCG-unresponsive CIS, pembrolizumab was unlikely to be cost-effective without a > 90% price reduction. While both RCx and SIC were more cost-effective than pembrolizumab, further studies may validate the cost-effectiveness of gemcitabine-docetaxel relative to RCx if the recurrence and metastasis thresholds are met. Overall, our model supports the preferential use of RCx and SIC over pembrolizumab for BCG-unresponsive CIS.

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Cost-effectiveness of neuromuscular ultrasound in focal neuropathies

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000007602 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 92 (23) ◽

pp. e2674-e2678 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Ross Mandeville ◽

Arvin Wali ◽

Charlie Park ◽

Erik Groessl ◽

Francis O. Walker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Societal Perspective ◽

Short Form ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Health Care Use ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Electrodiagnostic Testing ◽

Life Years

ObjectiveTo evaluate the cost-effectiveness of neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) for the evaluation of focal neuropathies.MethodsA prior prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial demonstrated that NMUS, when added to electrodiagnostic testing, resulted in improved clinical outcomes after 6 months of follow-up. From this study, we abstracted quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) from the 36-item Short Form Health Survey and entered this health-utility estimate into a mixed trial and model-based cost-effectiveness analysis from the societal perspective. Costs of intervention (NMUS) were estimated from Medicare payment rates for Current Procedural Terminology codes. Health care use was otherwise estimated to be equal, but sensitivity analyses further examined this and other key assumptions. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was used as the primary outcome with a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000 per QALY.ResultsThe predicted mean health outcome associated with use of NMUS was 0.079 QALY, and the mean cost was $37, resulting in an ICER of $463 per QALY. Results and conclusions remained robust across all sensitivity analyses, including variations in time horizon, initial distribution of health states, costs, and effectiveness.ConclusionsFrom a societal perspective, the addition of NMUS to electrodiagnostic testing when evaluating a focal neuropathy is cost-effective. A study of longer follow-up incorporating total health care use would further quantify the value of NMUS.ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT01394822.

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Cost-effectiveness of an internet-based perioperative care programme to enhance postoperative recovery in gynaecological patients: economic evaluation alongside a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised trial

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017782 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. e017782

Author(s):

Esther V A Bouwsma ◽

Judith E Bosmans ◽

Johanna M van Dongen ◽

Hans A M Brölmann ◽

Johannes R Anema ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Economic Evaluation ◽

Cost Effectiveness ◽

Usual Care ◽

Perioperative Care ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Stepped Wedge ◽

Gynaecological Surgery ◽

Care Programme ◽

Societal Costs ◽

Cluster Randomised

ObjectivesTo evaluate the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of an internet-based perioperative care programme compared with usual care for gynaecological patients.DesignEconomic evaluation from a societal perspective alongside a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial with 12 months of follow-up.SettingSecondary care, nine hospitals in the Netherlands, 2011–2014.Participants433 employed women aged 18–65 years scheduled for a hysterectomy and/or laparoscopic adnexal surgery.InterventionThe intervention comprised an internet-based care programme aimed at improving convalescence and preventing delayed return to work (RTW) following gynaecological surgery and was sequentially rolled out. Depending on the implementation phase of their hospital, patients were allocated to usual care (n=206) or to the intervention (n=227).Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was duration until full sustainable RTW. Secondary outcomes were quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), health-related quality of life and recovery.ResultsAt 12 months, there were no statistically significant differences in total societal costs (€−647; 95% CI €−2116 to €753) and duration until RTW (−4.1; 95% CI −10.8 to 2.6) between groups. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for RTW was 56; each day earlier RTW in the intervention group was associated with cost savings of €56 compared with usual care. The probability of the intervention being cost-effective was 0.79 at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) of €0 per day earlier RTW, which increased to 0.97 at a WTP of €76 per day earlier RTW. The difference in QALYs gained over 12 months between the groups was clinically irrelevant resulting in a low probability of cost-effectiveness for QALYs.ConclusionsConsidering that on average the costs of a day of sickness absence are €230, the care programme is considered cost-effective in comparison with usual care for duration until sustainable RTW after gynaecological surgery for benign disease. Future research should indicate whether widespread implementation of this care programme has the potential to reduce societal costs associated with gynaecological surgery.Trial registration numberNTR2933; Results.

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