Cost-effectiveness of a community pharmacist intervention in patients with depression: a randomized controlled trial (PRODEFAR Study).
BACKGROUND
Non-adherence to antidepressants generates higher costs for the treatment of depression. Little is known about the cost-effectiveness of pharmacist's interventions aimed at improving adherence to antidepressants. The study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a community pharmacist intervention in comparison with usual care in depressed patients initiating treatment with antidepressants in primary care.


METHODS
Patients were recruited by general practitioners and randomized to community pharmacist intervention (87) that received an educational intervention and usual care (92). Adherence to antidepressants, clinical symptoms, Quality-Adjusted Life-Years (QALYs), use of healthcare services and productivity losses were measured at baseline, 3 and 6 months.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between groups in costs or effects. From a societal perspective, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for the community pharmacist intervention compared with usual care was €1,866 for extra adherent patient and €9,872 per extra QALY. In terms of remission of depressive symptoms, the usual care dominated the community pharmacist intervention. If willingness to pay (WTP) is €30,000 per extra adherent patient, remission of symptoms or QALYs, the probability of the community pharmacist intervention being cost-effective was 0.71, 0.46 and 0.75, respectively (societal perspective). From a healthcare perspective, the probability of the community pharmacist intervention being cost-effective in terms of adherence, QALYs and remission was of 0.71, 0.76 and 0.46, respectively, if WTP is €30,000.


CONCLUSIONS
A brief community pharmacist intervention addressed to depressed patients initiating antidepressant treatment showed a probability of being cost-effective of 0.71 and 0.75 in terms of improvement of adherence and QALYs, respectively, when compared to usual care. Regular implementation of the community pharmacist intervention is not recommended.


BACKGROUND
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00794196.
Research and Development Unit, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. mrubio@pssjd.org
Maria
M
Rubio-Valera
Judith
J
Bosmans
Ana
A
Fernández
Maite
M
Peñarrubia-María
Marian
M
March
Pere
P
Travé
Juan A
JA
Bellón
Antoni
A
Serrano-Blanco
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010594:Pharmacies; D010595:Pharmacists; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012307:Risk Factors
D000928:Antidepressive Agents