title: Cost-effectiveness of increased telephone contact for patients with osteoarthritis. A randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of telephone intervention for patients with osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention did not significantly increase health care costs. The annual costs for a 1-unit improvement in physical functioning and in pain, as measured by the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales, were $70.86 and $31.00, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telephone contact is a potentially cost-effective intervention in osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weinberger
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Cowper
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Booher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D013689:Telephone / Q000191:economics*