Internet Delivered Treatment Found to be Cost Effective

published:

March 1, 2016

Author:

Murphy, SM, Campbell, AND, Glitz, UE, et al.

Citation:

Murphy SM, Campbell ANC, Ghitza UE, Kyle TL, Bailey GL, Nunes DV, Polsky D. Cost-Effectiveness of an Internet-Delievered Treatment for Substance Abuse: Data from a Multisite Randomized Controlled Trial. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2016 (in press).

Return to ASME Catalog

Substance misuse and excessive alcohol consumption are major public health issues.
Internet-based interventions for substance use disorders (SUDs) are a relatively new method for addressing barriers to access and supplementing existing care. This study examines cost-effectiveness in a multisite, randomized trial of an Internet-based version of the community reinforcement approach (CRA) with contingency management (CM) known as the Therapeutic Education System (TES) (CTN protocol 0044, “Web Delivery of Evidence-Based, Psychosocial Treatment for Substance Use Disorders“). The study involved an economic evaluation of the 12-week trial with follow-up at 24 and 36 weeks. 507 individuals who were seeking therapy for alcohol or other substance use disorders at 10 outpatient community-based treatment programs were recruited and randomized to either treatment as usual (TAU) or TES+TAU. Sub-analyses were completed on participants with a poorer prognosis (i.e., those not abstinent at study entry). Results found that, from the provider’s perspective, TES+TAU as it was implemented in this study costs $278 (SE=87) more than TAU alone after 12 weeks. The quality-adjusted life years gained by TES+TAU and TAU were similar; however, TES+TAU participants remained in treatment longer and achieved more days of abstinence than TAU patients. Regarding clinical outcome of abstinent years, TES+TAU qualifies as cost-effective with a level of confidence exceeding 95% for willingness-to-pay values above $20,000. That is, if the stakeholder is willing to pay $20,000 per abstinent-year, it is 95% likely they will find TES+TAU to be a “good value.” In general, findings were more promising for participants who were not abstinent at study entry. Conclusions: With regard to the clinical outcome of abstinence, our cost-effectiveness findings of TES+TAU compare favorably to those found elsewhere in the CM literature. Moreover, depending on providers’ and payers’ thresholds for defining value with regard to abstinence, TES+TAU has a high likelihood of being considered a wise investment. The analyses performed here serve as an initial economic framework for future studies integrating technology into SUD therapy. Find it in the CTN Dissemination Library: http://ctndisseminationlibrary.org/display/1186.htm