OBJECTIVE To assess the cost-effectiveness of prucalopride vs. continued laxative treatment for chronic constipation in patients in the Netherlands in whom laxatives have failed to provide adequate relief. METHODS A Markov model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of prucalopride in patients with chronic constipation receiving standard laxative treatment from the perspective of D...

BACKGROUND In a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) on childhood eczema we reported that substituting nurse practitioners (NPs) for dermatologists resulted in similar outcomes of eczema severity and in the quality of life, and higher patient satisfaction. OBJECTIVES To determine costs and cost-effectiveness of care provided by NPs vs. dermatologists and to compare our results with those in stu...

BACKGROUND Applying the chronic care model (CCM) for diabetes management helps improve health outcomes and patient care. The CCM was implemented at U.S. Air Force Wilford Hall Medical Center through the Diabetes Outreach Clinic (DOC) in 2006, but its cost-effectiveness in this setting is unknown. METHODS We constructed a Markov decision model to estimate DOC cost-effectiveness compared with u...

OBJECTIVES Haemorrhoidal disease is a common condition causing considerable distress to individuals and significant cost to healthcare services. This paper explored the cost-effectiveness of stapled haemorrhoidopexy (SH) compared with the non-surgical intervention, rubber band ligation (RBL), for grade II symptomatic circumferential haemorrhoids. METHOD An economic evaluation alongside a rand...

BACKGROUND Low- and middle-income countries lack information on contextualised mental health interventions to aid resource allocation decisions regarding healthcare. AIMS To undertake a cost-effectiveness analysis of treatments for depression contextualised to Chile. METHODS Using data from studies in Chile, we developed a computer-based Markov cohort model of depression among Chilean women...

OBJECTIVES To assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of parent training programmes for the treatment of children with conduct disorder (CD) up to the age of 18 years. DATA SOURCES Electronic databases. REVIEW METHODS For the effectiveness review, relevant studies were identified and evaluated. A quantitative synthesis of behavioural outcomes across trials was also undertaken using two a...

BACKGROUND The increasing incidence of osteoporotic fractures is becoming a growing burden on the health service. Due to the high cost of treatment, these fractures require a broader look at the underlying problem. The aim of the study was to assess the 10-year probability of hip fracture or any other major osteoporotic fracture at which the treatment becomes cost-effective. MATERIAL AND METH...

OBJECTIVE To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of medical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) under Brazilian public health system perspective (Unified Health System--"Sistema Unico de Saude (SUS)"). MATERIAL AND METHODS A revision of the literature of the medical treatment of BPH using alpha-blockers, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and combinations was carried out. A panel of s...

BACKGROUND Widespread increases in caesarean section (CS) rates have sparked concerns about risks to mothers and infants and rising healthcare costs. A multicentre, two-arm, cluster-randomized trial in Quebec, Canada assessed whether an audit and feedback intervention targeting health professionals would reduce CS rates for pregnant women compared to usual care, and concluded that it reduced CS...

Although progress has been made in the treatment of herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), available therapeutic options are only partially effective. Given evidence that a live-attenuated varicella-zoster-virus vaccine is effective at reducing the incidence of HZ, PHN and the burden of illness, policymakers and clinicians are being asked to make recommendations regarding the use ...