Reduction in medication costs for patients with chronic nonmalignant pain completing a pain rehabilitation program: a prospective analysis of admission, discharge, and 6-month follow-up medication costs.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic nonmalignant pain (CNMP) is both a prevalent and a costly health problem in our society. Pain rehabilitation programs have been shown to provide cost-effective treatment. A treatment goal for some rehabilitation programs is reduction in the use of pain-related medication. Medication costs savings from pain rehabilitation programs have not been analyzed in previous studies.


METHODS
This prospective cohort study of 186 patients with CNMP addresses the costs of medications at admission to a 3-week outpatient pain rehabilitation program, at discharge, and at 6-month follow-up. Medication use was determined through a detailed pharmacist interview with patients at admission and discharge. Patients were sent questionnaires 6 months after program completion, which obtained current medication information.


RESULTS
Statistically significant medication cost savings were seen for program completers at discharge and at 6-month follow-up (P < 0.05). The mean (standard deviation) daily prescription medication cost reduction from admission to discharge was $9.31 ($12.70) using the average wholesale price of medications. From the original study cohort, 121 patients completed the 6-month follow-up survey. The mean daily prescription medication cost savings from admission to 6-month follow-up was $6.68 ($14.40).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients benefited from significant medication cost savings at the completion of the 3-week outpatient pain rehabilitation program and maintained significant savings after 6 months. This study adds to the current literature on the economic value of comprehensive pain rehabilitation programs.
Cunningham
Julie L
JL
Department of Pharmacy, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55902, USA. cunningham.julie2@mayo.edu
Rome
Jeffrey D
JD
Kerkvliet
Jennifer L
JL
Townsend
Cynthia O
CO
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017046:Cost Savings; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000191:economics*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000191:economics*; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000191:economics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D055553:Prescription Drugs