Cost effectiveness of preventing falls and improving mobility in people with Parkinson disease: protocol for an economic evaluation alongside a clinical trial.
BACKGROUND
Cost of illness studies show that Parkinson disease (PD) is costly for individuals, the healthcare system and society. The costs of PD include both direct and indirect costs associated with falls and related injuries.


METHODS
This protocol describes a prospective economic analysis conducted alongside a randomised controlled trial (RCT). It evaluates whether physical therapy is more cost effective than usual care from the perspective of the health care system. Cost effectiveness will be evaluated using a three-way comparison of the cost per fall averted and the cost per quality adjusted life year saved across two physical therapy interventions and a control group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has the potential to determine whether targetted physical therapy as an adjunct to standard care can be cost effective in reducing falls in people with PD.


BACKGROUND
No: ACTRN12606000344594.
Watts
Jennifer J
JJ
Centre for Health Economics, Monash University, Building 75, 3800 Melbourne, Australia. jenny.watts@buseco.monash.edu.au
McGinley
Jennifer L
JL
Huxham
Frances
F
Menz
Hylton B
HB
Iansek
Robert
R
Murphy
Anna T
AT
Waller
Emma R
ER
Morris
Meg E
ME
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D017046:Cost Savings; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology