Investigating the cost-effectiveness of structured diabetes education. Issue 10 (2nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Swift, Jim; Barker, Chris; Palin, Richard; Peck, Gill
• Is Part Of: British journal of healthcare management. Volume 25:Issue 10(2019)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 15
• Publication Date: 2019-10-02
• Subjects: Cost effectiveness -- Structured diabetes education -- Type 2 diabetes; Health services administration -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 362.1068
• DOI: 10.12968/bjhc.2019.0004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1358-0574

Abstract

Abstract : Background/Aims: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommend that people with type 2 diabetes should have access to structured diabetes education. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and the impact of the EMPOWER T2n structured diabetes education programme. Methods: Audit data were obtained from 443 participants from four Clinical Commissioning Groups in England. Clinical parameters, including glycated haemoglobin levels and cholesterol, were collected before EMPOWER T2n started, as well as at 6 months into the programme and 14-months after its completion. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction in glycated haemoglobin at 6-months (−8.2mmol/mol), which was maintained at 14 months (−7.8mmol/mol). Modelled 3-year changes in costs in the base case were -£42.30 for coronary heart disease, -£0.75 for stroke and -£7.79 for microvascular events. The mean number of medicines used decreased from 0.5 at baseline to 0.37 at 14 months (-13.1%). This produced an actual saving of £44.28, with a further saving of £98.78, compared to the modelled increase in medicine use over time. All of these changes translated into an overall gross saving of £193.89 per participant over the 3-year model timeframe. These savings exceeded the average cost of delivering EMPOWER T2n (£96.17 per participant). Conclusion: Participation in the EMPOWER T2n structured diabetes education programme was associated with improvements against a range of clinical parameters and associated with modelled net cost savings over a 3-year timeframe.