title: Cost-effectiveness of a combined physical exercise and psychosocial training intervention for children with cancer: Results from the quality of life in motion study.
abstract: This study was performed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of a combined physical exercise and psychosocial intervention for children with cancer compared with usual care. Sixty-eight children, aged 8-18 years old, during or within the first year post-cancer treatment were randomised to the intervention (n = 30) and control group (n = 38). Health outcomes included fitness, muscle strength and quality adjusted life years; all administered at baseline, 4- and 12-month follow-up. Costs were gathered by 1 monthly cost questionnaires over 12 months, supplemented by medication data obtained from pharmacies. Results showed no significant differences in costs and effects between the intervention and control group at 12-month follow-up. On average, societal costs were €299 higher in the intervention group than in the control group, but this difference was not significant. Cost-effectiveness acceptability curves indicated that the intervention needs large societal investments to reach reasonable probabilities of cost-effectiveness for quality of life and lower body muscle strength. Based on the results of this study, the intervention is not cost-effective in comparison with usual care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Braam
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: van Dijk-Lokkart
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van Dongen
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R R L
authors.initials: RRL
authors.lastname: van Litsenburg
authors.affiliation: Child Development & Exercise Center, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takken
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology and Social Work, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huisman
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Oncology, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J H M
authors.initials: JHM
authors.lastname: Merks
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences and the EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N A G
authors.initials: NAG
authors.lastname: Hakkenbrak
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Bierings
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, Erasmus Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.|Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van den Heuvel-Eibrink
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Veening
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Dulmen-den Broeder
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Oncology/Haematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G J L
authors.initials: GJL
authors.lastname: Kaspers
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009426:Netherlands; D010290:Parents; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
keywords: childhood cancer; cost-effectiveness; exercise; psychosocial intervention