BACKGROUND: Home based medical care is a popular alternative to standard hospital care but there is uncertainty about its cost-effectiveness. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness and the costs of multidisciplinary home based care in multiple sclerosis with hospital care in a prospective randomised controlled trial with a one year follow up. METHODS:201 patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis were studied. They were randomised in a ratio 2:1 to an intervention group (133) or a control group (68). They were assessed at baseline and one year after randomisation with validated measures of physical and psychological impairment and quality of life (SF-36 health survey). The costs to the National Health Service over the one year follow up were calculated by a cost minimisation analysis. RESULTS: There were no differences in functional status between the home based care group and the hospital group. There was a significant difference between the two groups favouring home based management in four SF-36 health dimensions-general health, bodily pain, role-emotional, and social functioning (all p < or = 0.001). The cost of home based care was slightly less (822 euros/patient/year) than hospital care, mainly as a result of a reduction in hospital admissions. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive planning of home based intervention implemented by an interdisciplinary team and designed specifically for people with multiple sclerosis may provide a cost-effective approach to management and improve the quality of life.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Home based medical care is a popular alternative to standard hospital care but there is uncertainty about its cost-effectiveness. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effectiveness and the costs of multidisciplinary home based care in multiple sclerosis with hospital care in a prospective randomised controlled trial with a one year follow up. METHODS: 201 patients with clinically definite multiple sclerosis were studied. They were randomised in a ratio 2:1 to an intervention group (133) or a control group (68). They were assessed at baseline and one year after randomisation with validated measures of physical and psychological impairment and quality of life (SF-36 health survey). The costs to the National Health Service over the one year follow up were calculated by a cost minimisation analysis. RESULTS: There were no differences in functional status between the home based care group and the hospital group. There was a significant difference between the two groups favouring home based management in four SF-36 health dimensions-general health, bodily pain, role-emotional, and social functioning (all p < or = 0.001). The cost of home based care was slightly less (822 euros/patient/year) than hospital care, mainly as a result of a reduction in hospital admissions. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive planning of home based intervention implemented by an interdisciplinary team and designed specifically for people with multiple sclerosis may provide a cost-effective approach to management and improve the quality of life.
Authors: A Solari; G Filippini; P Gasco; L Colla; A Salmaggi; L La Mantia; M Farinotti; M Eoli; L Mendozzi Journal: Neurology Date: 1999-01-01 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: L Pfennings; L Cohen; D Miller; L Gerbaud; L Vleugels; J Freeman; D Vernay; S Biolay; P Ketelaer; A Thompson; C Polman; H van der Ploeg Journal: Psychol Rep Date: 1999-08
Authors: Sasha Shepperd; Helen Doll; Robert M Angus; Mike J Clarke; Steve Iliffe; Lalit Kalra; Nicoletta Aimonio Ricauda; Vittoria Tibaldi; Andrew D Wilson Journal: CMAJ Date: 2009-01-20 Impact factor: 8.262