OBJECTIVE: Chronic nonmalignant pain (CNMP) is both a prevalent and a costly health problem in our society. Pain rehabilitation programs have been shown to provide cost-effective treatment. A treatment goal for some rehabilitation programs is reduction in the use of pain-related medication. Medication costs savings from pain rehabilitation programs have not been analyzed in previous studies. DESIGN: This prospective cohort study of 186 patients with CNMP addresses the costs of medications at admission to a 3-week outpatient pain rehabilitation program, at discharge, and at 6-month follow-up. Medication use was determined through a detailed pharmacist interview with patients at admission and discharge. Patients were sent questionnaires 6 months after program completion, which obtained current medication information. RESULTS: Statistically significant medication cost savings were seen for program completers at discharge and at 6-month follow-up (P < 0.05). The mean (standard deviation) daily prescription medication cost reduction from admission to discharge was $9.31 ($12.70) using the average wholesale price of medications. From the original study cohort, 121 patients completed the 6-month follow-up survey. The mean daily prescription medication cost savings from admission to 6-month follow-up was $6.68 ($14.40). CONCLUSION: Patients benefited from significant medication cost savings at the completion of the 3-week outpatient pain rehabilitation program and maintained significant savings after 6 months. This study adds to the current literature on the economic value of comprehensive pain rehabilitation programs.
OBJECTIVE:Chronic nonmalignant pain (CNMP) is both a prevalent and a costly health problem in our society. Pain rehabilitation programs have been shown to provide cost-effective treatment. A treatment goal for some rehabilitation programs is reduction in the use of pain-related medication. Medication costs savings from pain rehabilitation programs have not been analyzed in previous studies. DESIGN: This prospective cohort study of 186 patients with CNMP addresses the costs of medications at admission to a 3-week outpatientpain rehabilitation program, at discharge, and at 6-month follow-up. Medication use was determined through a detailed pharmacist interview with patients at admission and discharge. Patients were sent questionnaires 6 months after program completion, which obtained current medication information. RESULTS: Statistically significant medication cost savings were seen for program completers at discharge and at 6-month follow-up (P < 0.05). The mean (standard deviation) daily prescription medication cost reduction from admission to discharge was $9.31 ($12.70) using the average wholesale price of medications. From the original study cohort, 121 patients completed the 6-month follow-up survey. The mean daily prescription medication cost savings from admission to 6-month follow-up was $6.68 ($14.40). CONCLUSION:Patients benefited from significant medication cost savings at the completion of the 3-week outpatientpain rehabilitation program and maintained significant savings after 6 months. This study adds to the current literature on the economic value of comprehensive pain rehabilitation programs.
Authors: W Michael Hooten; Kristin S Vickers; Yu Shi; Kaye L Ebnet; Cynthia O Townsend; Christi A Patten; David O Warner Journal: Pain Pract Date: 2011-04-25 Impact factor: 3.183
Authors: Anilga Tabibian; Karen B Grothe; Manpreet S Mundi; Todd A Kellogg; Matthew M Clark; Cynthia O Townsend Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2015-10 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: W Michael Hooten; Cynthia O Townsend; J Taylor Hays; Kaye L Ebnet; Thomas R Gauvin; Jessica M Gehin; Heidi J Laures; Christi A Patten; David O Warner Journal: Addict Behav Date: 2013-11-21 Impact factor: 3.913
Authors: W Michael Hooten; William R Hartman; John Logan Black; Heidi J Laures; Denise L Walker Journal: BMC Med Genet Date: 2013-07-30 Impact factor: 2.103