title: The cost-effectiveness of substituting physicians with diabetes nurse specialists: a randomized controlled trial with 2-year follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of an intervention substituting physicians with nurse specialists.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Increasing populations of people with diabetes in most Western countries require creative solutions that give high-quality chronic care while controlling costs. Instigating nurse specialists as a substitute for physicians yields positive results in this area. Research about such interventions in a hospital-based setting is limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper is a report of a study of a randomized, non-blinded clinical trial including people with diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2. In the intervention group nurse specialists were the central carers, providing care that conformed to a preset protocol. Patients were included between 2004 and 2007. Costs, quality of life and adverse events were measured, cost-effect ratios and incremental cost-effect ratios were calculated based on health-resource utilization rates, corresponding market prices and national tariffs from 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Health related quality of life scores did not differ significantly between the control and the intervention group. In the intervention group, fewer patients were hospitalized and fewer side effects from drugs were reported compared to controls. Nurse specialists as central care givers generated a modest reduction in costs per quality adjusted life year gained compared to usual care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurse specialists give diabetes care that is similar to care provided by physicians in terms of quality of life and economic value. Instigating a nurse specialist as central carer yields opportunities to generate cost savings. Developing interventions which also focus on prevention of complications is recommended when aiming for long-term organisational cost savings.
authors: Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands. e.arts@reuma.umcn.nl
authors: Elke E A
authors: EE
authors: Arts
authors: Sabine A N T
authors: SA
authors: Landewe-Cleuren
authors: Nicolaas C
authors: NC
authors: Schaper
authors: Hubertus J M
authors: HJ
authors: Vrijhoef
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002983:Clinical Competence; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D017046:Cost Savings / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000191:economics*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D010820:Physicians / Q000191:economics*; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses'; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome