Article Text
Abstract
Objective: To estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of a structured community pharmacist-based smoking cessation programme compared with usual care.
Design: A cost-effectiveness study using a healthcare 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) programme compared to usual care.
Main outcome measure: Cost per life year gained (LYG) attributable to the smoking cessation programme.
Results: The CPSC programme results in cost savings of 17 503.53 baht (£250; €325; $500) to the health system and life year gains of 0.18 years for men and; costs savings of 21 499.75 baht (£307; €399; $614) and life year gains of 0.24 years for women. A series of sensitivity analyses demonstrate that both cost savings and life year gains are 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 CPSC programme 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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Footnotes
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Funding: This study was supported, in part, by a grant from the Thailand Research Fund and Thai Pharmacy Network for Tobacco Control (through the Thai Health Promotion Foundation).
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Competing interests: None.