A cost-effectiveness analysis of a health education programme for elderly persons with age-related macular degeneration: A longitudinal study

• Published in: Disability and rehabilitation 2005-01, Vol.27 (20), p.1203-1212
• Main Authors: Eklund, K., Sonn, U., Nystedt, P., Dahlin-Ivanoff, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 80 and over; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Arbetsterapi; Cost-Benefit Analysis; economics; Evaluation; Female; Health Care Costs; Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy; Health Education; Health Education - economics; Health promotion; Humans; Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi; Longitudinal Studies; Macular Degeneration; Macular Degeneration - rehabilitation; Male; Occupational Therapy; Occupational therapy, health promotion, evaluation; Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified; rehabilitation; SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP; SOCIAL SCIENCES; Sweden; Övrig annan samhällsvetenskap
• ISSN: 0963-8288; 1464-5165; 1464-5165
• DOI: 10.1080/09638280500052716

Purpose: To analyse the cost-effectiveness of the activity-based Health Education Programme 'Discovering New Ways' versus a standard Individual Programme. Method: Two-hundred and twenty-nine persons were randomized to either the Health Education Programme or an Individual Programme. The present study is based on 131 persons who participated in the 28-month follow-up. Costs for the low vision clinic were documented prospectively along with external costs. A cost-effectiveness analysis was done using cases with an improved level of perceived security in daily activities as the effectiveness measure. Results: The Health Education Programme led to significantly more cases with an improved level of perceived security (45 vs. 10%, CI 95%: 21 - 49, p value < 0.001) and the total social cost per treatment was lower (28 004 vs. 36 341 SEK). Taken separately the low vision clinic costs were slightly higher due to a higher prescription of assistive devices, but external costs were lower for the Health Education Programme compared to the Individual Programme, though neither of these differences was statistically significant. Conclusion: The results suggest that replacing the standard Individual Programme with the Health Education Programme 'Discovering New Ways' is cost-effective as more persons experience increased security to a lesser total cost.