<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> There is a substantial lack of home-based exercise programs in the highly vulnerable group of geriatric patients with cognitive impairment (CI) after discharge from ward rehabilitation. Beyond clinical effectiveness, the cost-effectiveness of intervention programs to enhance physical performance is not well investigated in this target group. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The aim of the study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of a 12-week home-based exercise intervention following discharge from ward rehabilitation compared to unspecified flexibility training for geriatric patients with CI from a societal perspective. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This cost-effectiveness study was conducted alongside a randomized placebo-controlled trial. A total of 118 geriatric patients with CI (Mini-Mental State Examination score: 17–26) were randomized either to the intervention group (IG, <i>n</i> = 63) or control group (CG, <i>n</i> = 55). Participants in the IG received a home-based individually tailored exercise program to increase physical performance, while participants in the CG received unspecific flexibility training (placebo control). Healthcare service use, physical performance (Short Physical Performance Battery, SPPB), and quality of life (EQ-5D-3L) were measured over 24 weeks. The net monetary benefit (NMB) approach was applied to calculate incremental cost-effectiveness of the exercise intervention compared to the CG with respect to improvement of (a) physical performance on the SPPB and (b) quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Physical performance was significantly improved in the IG compared to the CG (mean difference at 24 weeks: 1.3 points; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.5–2.2; <i>p</i> = 0.003), while health-related quality of life did not significantly differ between the groups at 24 weeks (mean difference: 0.08; 95% CI = −0.05 to 0.21; <i>p</i> = 0.218). Mean costs to implement the home-based exercise intervention were EUR 284 per patient. The probability of a positive incremental NMB of the intervention reached a maximum of 92% at a willingness to pay (WTP) of EUR 500 per point on the SPPB. The probability of cost-utility referring to QALYs was 85% at a WTP of EUR 5,000 per QALY. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The home-based exercise intervention demonstrated high probability of cost-effectiveness in terms of improved physical performance in older adults with CI following discharge from ward rehabilitation, but not in terms of quality of life.
Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Chronische Kreuzschmerzen (engl. „chronic low back pain“; Abk. CLBP) zählen zu den häufigsten muskuloskeletalen Erkrankungen. Die ambulante Regelversorgung sieht bisher keine strukturierte multimodale Versorgung vor, wobei eine multimodale Therapie empfohlen wird. Ziel der Arbeit Es sollte die Inanspruchnahme ambulanter Regelversorgung im ersten Jahr von neu erkrankten Patienten mit CLBP hinsichtlich des multimodalen Behandlungsansatzes exploriert und Nutzertypen bestimmt werden. Material und Methoden Eine Two-step-Clusteranalyse wurde mit Routinedaten von 11.182 inzidenten Fällen durchgeführt. Das Alter lag zwischen 18 und 65 Jahren und Daten von vier aufeinander folgenden Quartalen je Patient wurden analysiert. Anhand der Abrechnungsdaten von Orthopäden, Schmerztherapeuten, Psychotherapeuten, Heilmitteln, Schmerzmedikamenten und Opioiden wurden die Cluster ermittelt. Merkmale der Versorgungsstruktur und der Versicherten lieferten die weiteren Ergebnisse. Ergebnisse Die Analyse ergab vier Nutzertypen: 39,7 % nahmen keine fachärztliche Versorgung und wenige Heilmittel in Anspruch; 37,3 % wurden orthopädisch versorgt; 15,6 % nahmen orthopädische und schmerztherapeutische Versorgung in Anspruch; 7,4 % wurden orthopädisch, schmerz- und/oder psychotherapeutisch versorgt. Charakteristisch für eine multimodale Inanspruchnahme war: weiblich, hoher Schmerzmittelverbrauch (M = 143,94 DDD), hoher Opioidverbrauch (M = 37,12 DDD), hohe Heilmittelkosten (M = 631,79 €), Akupunktur, Antidepressiva, Hospitalisierung, interdisziplinäre Fallkonferenzen und Konsultationen bei Neurologen. 60,4 % der Studienpopulation nahmen Schmerzmittel ein. Diskussion Das Clusterverfahren zeigte unterschiedliche Nutzertypen. Die empfohlene multimodale Therapie erhielten circa 23 % der Studienpopulation.
Background Quantitative data reports are widely produced to inform health policy decisions. Policymakers are expected to critically assess provided information in order to incorporate the best available evidence into the decision-making process. Many other factors are known to influence this process, but little is known about how quantitative data reports are actually read. We explored the reading behavior of (future) health policy decision-makers, using innovative methods. Methods We conducted a computer-assisted laboratory study, involving starting and advanced students in medicine and health sciences, and professionals as participants. They read a quantitative data report to inform a decision on the use of resources for long-term care in dementia in a hypothetical decision scenario. Data were collected through eye-tracking, questionnaires, and a brief interview. Eye-tracking data were used to generate ‘heatmaps’ and five measures of reading behavior. The questionnaires provided participants’ perceptions of understandability and helpfulness as well as individual characteristics. Interviews documented reasons for attention to specific report sections. The quantitative analysis was largely descriptive, complemented by Pearson correlations. Interviews were analyzed by qualitative content analysis. Results In total, 46 individuals participated [students (85%), professionals (15%)]. Eye-tracking observations showed that the participants spent equal time and attention for most parts of the presented report, but were less focused when reading the methods section. The qualitative content analysis identified 29 reasons for attention to a report section related to four topics. Eye-tracking measures were largely unrelated to participants’ perceptions of understandability and helpfulness of the report. Conclusions Eye-tracking data added information on reading behaviors that were not captured by questionnaires or interviews with health decision-makers.
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