Randomized trial of two physiotherapy interventions for primary care back and neck pain patients: cost effectiveness analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the cost-effectiveness of a brief physiotherapy pain management approach using cognitive-behavioural principles (Solution-Finding Approach) when compared with a commonly used traditional method of physical therapy (McKenzie Approach).


METHODS
Economic evaluation conducted alongside a randomized trial. The study related incremental differences in costs and benefits associated with the Solution Finding and McKenzie approaches over 12 months. Costs were measured in UK pounds sterling. Benefit was measured as health-related quality of life using the EQ-5D, which was used to estimate patient-specific quality adjusted life years (QALYs).


RESULTS
The McKenzie treatment required, on average, one extra physiotherapist visit (4.15 vs 3.10). Over a 12-month period, Solution Finding was associated with a lower per patient cost of pound-24.4 (95% CI pound-49.6 to 0.789 pounds). The mean difference in QALYs between the two groups was -0.020 (95% CI -0.057 to 0.017); favouring those receiving McKenzie. Relating incremental mean costs and QALYs gave an incremental cost effectiveness ratio of 1220 pounds (-24.4/-0.020) suggesting the McKenzie treatment is cost effective.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that the additional cost associated with the McKenzie treatment when compared with the Solution Finding Approach may be worth paying, given the additional benefit the approach seems more likely to provide. Further research is needed to assess the extent to which the difference in physiotherapy visits between the two strategies is generalizable to other treatment settings.
Manca
A
A
Centre for Health Economics, Alcuin A Block, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK. am126@york.ac.uk
Dumville
J C
JC
Torgerson
D J
DJ
Klaber Moffett
J A
JA
Mooney
M P
MP
Jackson
D A
DA
Eaton
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004739:England; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000191:economics*; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics; D016896:Treatment Outcome