RESEARCH PAPERS

A cost-effectiveness analysis of a community pharmacist-based smoking cessation program in Thailand

Kednapa Thavorn¹, Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk^2,3

¹ School of Pharmacy, Naresuan University, Thailand;
² School of Pharmacy, Naresuan University PLUS 2 MORE AFFILIATIONS. See the manuscript, Thailand

gthavorn{at}yahoo.com

nui{at}u.washington.edu

Objective: To estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of a structured community pharmacist-based smoking cessation program compared with usual care.

Design: A cost-effectiveness study using a health care system perspective.

Population: Two simulated cohorts of smokers: male and female aged 40, 50, and 60 years who regularly smoke 10-20 cigarettes per day.

Intervention and comparator: A structured community pharmacist-based smoking cessation (CPSC) program compared to usual care.

Main outcome measure: Cost per life year gained (LYG) attributable to the smoking cessation program.Results: The community pharmacist-based smoking cessation program results in cost-savings of 17,503.53 baht (US$500) to the health system and life year gains of 0.181 years for men and; costs-savings of 21,499.75 baht (US$614) and life year gains of 0.244 years for women. A series of sensitivity analyses demonstrate that both cost-savings and life year gains were sensitive to variations in the discount rate and the long term smoking quit rate associated with the intervention.

Conclusion: From the perspective of the health system, the community pharmacist-based smoking cessation program yields cost-savings and life year gains. This finding provides important information for health policy decision makers when determining the magnitude of resources to be allocated to smoking cessation service in community pharmacy.

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