Transplant Trial Watch

Significant hospitalization cost savings to the payer with a pharmacist-led mobile health intervention to improve medication safety in kidney transplant recipients.

Taber, D. J., et al.

American Journal of Transplantation 2021 [record in progress].


Aims
This economic analysis of a previously published randomised controlled trial aimed to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led, mobile health (mHealth) intervention on healthcare costs.

Interventions
Participants in the original trial were randomised to either the mHealth-based intervention group or the usual care group.

Participants
136 kidney transplant recipients.

Outcomes
The main outcome of interest was an a priori planned economic assessment of the mHealth intervention.

Follow-up
12 months

CET Conclusions
This is a health-economic analysis from the payer perspective of a previously published pharmacist-led, mobile health (mHealth) intervention to facilitate the management of patients using remote monitoring and telehealth. The a priori planned analysis evaluated all costs associated with hospitalisation during the 12-month follow up. The mHealth intervention had previously shown to reduce the hospitalisation rate, medication errors and drug adverse events. Cost data were estimated using validated methods. The hospitalisation costs were significantly lower in the intervention versus the control arm ($390,489 versus $870,468) with a significant return on investment ($4.30 for every $1 spent). The authors suggest that cost-savings should be passed on to the transplant centres so that they can recover the costs of implementing the intervention.

Jadad score
3

Data analysis
Per protocol analysis

Allocation concealment
Yes

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT03247322

Funding source
Non-industry funded