| Literature DB >> 27855094 |
M Dieng1, A E Cust1,2, N A Kasparian3, P Butow4, D S J Costa4,5, S W Menzies6,7, G J Mann2,8, R L Morton9.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Psychological support programmes are not currently funded for people with a history of melanoma. A major barrier to the implementation of effective psychological interventions in routine clinical care is a lack of cost-effectiveness data. This paper describes the planned economic evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial of a psychoeducational intervention for people with a history of melanoma who are at high risk of developing new primary disease. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: The economic evaluation is a within-trial analysis to evaluate the incremental costs and health outcomes of a psychoeducational intervention compared to usual care from the perspective of the Australian healthcare system. Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analyses will be conducted, providing estimates of the cost to reduce fear of melanoma recurrence and the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. Fear of melanoma recurrence will be measured using the Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory and preference-based quality of life measured using the Assessment of Quality of Life-8 Dimensions (AQoL-8D) instrument. The AQoL-8D will provide utilities for estimation of QALYs in the cost-utility analysis. Unit costs of health services and medicines will be taken from the Medicare Benefits Schedule and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme national databases. Health outcomes, and health service and medication use will be collected at baseline, 6 and 12 months follow-up. The within-trial analysis will be conducted at 12 months, consistent with the end point of the trial. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Approval to conduct the study was granted by the Sydney Local Health District (RPAH zone) Ethics Review Committee (X13-0065 and HREC/13/RPAH/86), the Department of Health and Ageing Human Research Ethics Committee (21/2013), the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (2013/595), and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Ethics Committee (EO 2013/4/58). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12613000304730; Pre-results. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.Entities:
Keywords: Cost-effectiveness analysis; Fear of cancer recurrence; Psychological intervention; QALY; cancer; cost-utility analysis
Mesh:
Year: 2016 PMID: 27855094 PMCID: PMC5073649 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012153
Source DB: PubMed Journal: BMJ Open ISSN: 2044-6055 Impact factor: 2.692
Summary of the intervention and comparator components
| Component | Description | Intervention | Usual care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full dermatological appointment at the high-risk clinic | Full dermatological appointments at the high-risk clinics designed to screen patients using different techniques, including dermoscopy, digital dermoscopy monitoring and total body photography | Every 6 months | Every 6 months |
| Psychoeducational booklet, ‘Melanoma: Questions and Answers’ | A 76-page, full-colour, evidence-based, psychoeducational booklet comprised of seven modules and a series of tailored resources. The booklet features comprehensive information on a range of topics, including melanoma types and risk factors, clinical care for people affected by melanoma, tools for skin self-examination and doctor–patient communication, psychological aspects associated with melanoma, including living with fear of new or recurrent melanoma, coping responses, tools for keeping track of one's care, and pathways to further information and support | Four weeks prior to 6-monthly full dermatological appointment | At the end of the trial |
| Cancer Council booklet, ‘Understanding Melanoma’ | Easy-to-read information about melanoma diagnosis, treatment, and emotional and practical issues. The booklet was sent to participants 4 weeks prior to their next full dermatological appointment | Four weeks prior to 6-monthly full dermatological appointment | Four weeks prior to 6-monthly full dermatological appointment |
| Psychotherapeutic Session 1 | Scheduled 1 week prior to patients’ 6-monthly full dermatological appointment. Session 1 featured a psychological assessment, including discussion of participants’ background, experiences of melanoma and clinical care, other health-related experiences, information and support needs, and goals, hopes and wishes for the intervention | One week prior to 6-monthly full dermatological appointment | Never |
| Psychotherapeutic Session 2 | Session 2 included exploration of participants’ experience of his or her recent high-risk melanoma clinic appointment and its outcomes, the clinical care received, review of previous session and any difficulties experienced, participants’ unmet information and support needs, and information and referral for addressing unmet needs, when appropriate | One week after 6-monthly full dermatological appointment | Never |
| Psychotherapeutic Session 3 | Session 3 comprised: review of previous session and any difficulties experienced since the session, discussion of the degree to which unmet needs have been addressed, discussion of new strategies to address potential future difficulties or concerns, exploration of relevant services and resources in the booklet and other sources and facilitation of referral for ongoing psychological care, if indicated | Three weeks after 6-monthly full dermatological appointment | Never |
Overview of health outcomes measured
| Health outcome | Means of collection | Timing of collection | Source of data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fear of cancer recurrence (severity score) | FCRI administered via self-report questionnaire | Baseline prior to randomisation | Patient-reported outcomes |
| Health-related quality of life | AQoL-8D administered via self-report questionnaire | Baseline prior to randomisation | Patient-reported outcomes |
AQoL-8D, Assessment of Quality of Life—8 Dimensions; FCRI, Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory.
Overview of resource use measures
| Item of resource use | Unit | Unit costs | Source of data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intervention | |||
| Booklet development | Hour research time | AUD/hour | Grant budget |
| Pilot testing | |||
| Booklet design | Hour Graphic design | AUD/hour | Designer invoice |
| Booklet printing | Booklet | AUD/booklet | Printing invoice |
| Questionnaire printing | Questionnaire | AUD/survey | Printing invoice |
| Postage | Reply paid envelope | AUD/envelope | Trial records |
| Intervention manual development | Therapist hour | AUD/hour | University HR |
| Psychologist recruitment | Advertisement | AUD/advert | APS invoice |
| Psychologist training | Hour of training | AUD/hour | University HR |
| Weekly clinical supervision | Hour of supervision | AUD/hour | Trial records |
| Trial-related costs | |||
| Trial coordination | Hour PhD student | AUD/hour | University HR |
| Hour RA | AUD/hour | University HR | |
| Psychologist salary | Hour psychologist | AUD/hour | University HR |
| Booklets printing | Booklet | AUD/booklet | University HR |
| Questionnaires printing | Questionnaire | AUD/survey | Printing invoice |
| Telephone counselling | Minutes telephone call | AUD/min | Provider rates |
| Recording materials | Recorder | AUD/recorder | Trial records |
| Stamps | Set | AUD/set | Trial records |
| Envelopes | Box | AUD/box | Trial records |
| Health services use | |||
| Doctors’ visits | Mean number of hours of visit | 85% scheduled fee in AUD | Medicare Australia |
| Diagnostic testing | |||
| Psychologist visit | |||
| Psychiatrist visit | |||
| Social worker | |||
| Counselling service | |||
| Complementary therapies | |||
| Other allied health | |||
| Medication use | |||
| Prescribed medications | Dose | PBS fee | Medicare Australia |
APS, Australian Psychological Society; AUD, Australian dollar; HR, Human resources; PBS, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; RA, research assistant.