Certified service dogs - A cost-effectiveness analysis appraisal

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Disability Studies
• Animal-Assisted Interventions

Background:

• Individuals with functional impairments or chronic diseases require assistance for daily living.
• Novel, cost-effective solutions are essential to meet the needs of this population.
• Service dogs offer a potential solution by improving quality of life at a reasonable cost.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the cost-effectiveness of certified physical service dogs and diabetes alert dogs.
• To compare these service dogs against regular companion dogs.
• To provide data for decision-makers regarding resource allocation.

Main Methods:

• A decision-analytic model was employed over a 10-year time horizon.
• Costs, life years, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were estimated.
• The analysis was conducted from a societal perspective, with a 3% discount rate.

Main Results:

• Physical service dogs were cost-saving ($-6,000 USD) and increased QALYs by 0.28 compared to companion dogs.
• Diabetes alert dogs were also cost-effective, saving $4,500 USD and increasing QALYs by 0.06.
• Both types of service dogs demonstrated economic benefits over a 10-year period.

Conclusions:

• Certified service dogs are a cost-saving intervention for individuals with functional impairments or chronic diseases.
• Physical and diabetes alert dogs show potential as valuable supports, improving health outcomes and quality of life.
• Further research is recommended to confirm these cost-effectiveness findings.