Cost-effectiveness of self-management in asthmatics: a 1-yr follow-up randomized, controlled trial

Patient education in asthma can improve outcome but cost-effectiveness has not been widely assessed. The aim of the present study was to carry out a c ost-effectiveness analysis of patient education in asthmatics in a 12-month follow-up. The authors randomly allocated 78 asthmatics to a control or intervention g roup after they had received ordinary outpatient consultation care, Interve ntion consisted of two 2-h group sessions followed by 1-2 individual sessio ns administered by a nurse and a physiotherapist, Self-management mas empha sized, Effectiveness was expressed in terms of quality of life and forced e xpiratory volume in one second (FEV1). Doctor visits, days off work, dispen sed pharmaceuticals, hospital admissions, travel costs, time costs and educ ational costs were recorded. The control and intervention groups induced mean total costs of Norwegian K rone (NOK) 16,000 and 10,500 per patient, respectively. A 10-unit improveme nt in St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire total score and a 5% improveme nt in FEV1 in the intervention group were associated with a saving of NOK 3 ,400 and 4,500, respectively, compared to the control group, The number nee ded to educate (NNE) to make one person symptom free was associated with a sating of NOK 12,200, The results were robust to realistic changes in the a ssumptions upon which they were based. It could be concluded from this study that patient education in asthmatics in a 12-month follow-up improved patient outcomes and reduced costs.