Efficacy, cost-minimization, and budget impact of a personalized discharge letter for basal cell carcinoma patients to reduce low-value follow-up care

Sven van Egmond, Ella D van Vliet, Marlies Wakkee, Loes M Hollestein, Xavier G L V Pouwels, Hendrik Koffijberg, Yesim Misirli, Rachel S L A Bakkum, Maarten T Bastiaens, Nicole A Kukutsch, Albert J Oosting, Elsemieke I Plasmeijer, Annik van Rengen, Kees-Peter de Roos, Tamar E C Nijsten, Esther de Vries and Esther W de Bekker-Grob

PLOS ONE, 2022, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Background: The incidence of keratinocyte carcinomas is high and rapidly growing. Approximately 80% of keratinocyte carcinomas consist of basal cell carcinomas (BCC) with 50% of these being considered as low-risk tumors. Nevertheless, 83% of the low-risk BCC patients were found to receive more follow-up care than recommended according to the Dutch BCC guideline, which is one visit post-treatment for this group. More efficient management could reduce unnecessary follow-up care and related costs. Objectives: To study the efficacy, cost-utility, and budget impact of a personalized discharge letter for low-risk BCC patients compared with usual care (no personalized letter). Methods: In a multi-center intervention study, a personalized discharge letter in addition to usual care was compared to usual care in first-time BCC patients. Model-based cost-utility and budget impact analyses were conducted, using individual patient data gathered via surveys. The outcome measures were number of follow-up visits, costs and quality adjusted life years (QALY) per patient. Results: A total of 473 first-time BCC patients were recruited. The personalized discharge letter decreased the number of follow-up visits by 14.8% in the first year. The incremental costs after five years were -€24.45 per patient. The QALYs were 4.12 after five years and very similar in both groups. The national budget impact was -€2,7 million after five years. Conclusions: The distribution of a personalized discharge letter decreases the number of unnecessary follow-up visits and implementing the intervention in a large eligible population would results in substantial cost savings, contributing to restraining the growing BCC costs.

Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0260978

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260978

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