title: Evaluating the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of foot orthoses in the treatment of plantar heel pain: a feasibility study.
abstract: This study evaluated the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two different types of foot orthoses used to treat plantar heel pain. Forty-eight patients were randomly assigned to receive either a functional or an accommodative orthosis. General (EuroQol) and specific (Foot Health Status Questionnaire) health-status measures were used. Data were also collected using economic questionnaires relating to National Health Service costs for podiatry, other health-service costs, and patient costs. Data were measured at baseline and at 4- and 8-week intervals. Thirty-five patients completed the study. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in foot pain and a significant increase in foot function with the functional foot orthoses over the 8-week trial. The accommodative foot orthoses demonstrated a significant reduction in foot pain only at 4 weeks. The cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrated that functional orthoses, although initially more expensive, result in a better quality of life. Use of functional orthoses resulted in an increased cost of pound 17.99 (32.74 dollars) per patient, leading to an incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year of pound 1,650 (3,003 dollars) for functional orthoses.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Social Care, University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, England.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rome
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Stephen Charles
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hannant
authors.forename: Des
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Callaghan
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hubble
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006365:Heel; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D009989:Orthotic Devices / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D059408:Pain Management; D011788:Quality of Life; D006113:United Kingdom