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Published on: August 1, 2019
Cost-utility and cost consequence of a telehealth intervention targeting improvement in addictive eating for
Janelle A Skinner1,2, Mark Leary1,2, Olivia Wynne2
1School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia.
Background:
The TRACE (Targeted Research for Addictive and Compulsive Eating) intervention was evaluated in a 3-month randomized controlled trial which demonstrated significant improvement in Yale Food Addiction Scale scores favoring dietitian-led telehealth (active intervention) compared with passive and control groups. This study aimed to determine intervention costs and cost-utility.
Methods:
Costs of each intervention (2021$AUD) and incremental net monetary benefit (iNMB; incremental benefit, defined as Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALY) gained, multiplied by willingness to pay threshold minus incremental cost) were calculated to estimate differences between groups.
Results:
The active intervention (n = 38) cost $294 (95% UI: $266, $316) per person compared to $47 (95% UI: $40, $54) in the passive intervention (n = 24), and $26 in the control group (n = 37). At a cost-effectiveness threshold of $50 000 per QALY score gained, the active intervention iNMB was -$186 (95% UI: -$1137, $834) and the passive group $127 (95% UI: -$1137, $834). Compared to the control group, estimates indicate a 30% chance of the active intervention, and a 60% chance of the passive intervention being cost effective.
Conclusion:
Although the overall cost of the active intervention was low, this was not considered cost-effective in comparison to the passive intervention, given small QALY score gains.
Trial Registration:
Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12621001079831.
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