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Cost utility of a pharmacist-led minor ailment service compared with usual pharmacist care

Resource type
Authors/contributors
Title
Cost utility of a pharmacist-led minor ailment service compared with usual pharmacist care
Abstract
Abstract Background A cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) performed from July 2018 to March 2019 demonstrated the clinical impact of a community pharmacist delivered minor ailment service (MAS) compared with usual pharmacist care (UC). MAS consisted of a technology-based face-to-face consultation delivered by trained community pharmacists. The consultation was guided by clinical pathways for assessment and management, and communication systems, collaboratively agreed with general practitioners. MAS pharmacists were trained and provided monthly practice support by a practice change facilitator. The objective of this study was to assess the cost utility of MAS, compared to UC. Methods Participants recruited were adult patients with symptoms suggestive of a minor ailment condition, from community pharmacies located in Western Sydney. Patients received MAS (intervention) or UC (control) and were followed-up by telephone 14-days following consultation with the pharmacist. A cost utility analysis was conducted alongside the cRCT. Transition probabilities and costs were directly derived from cRCT study data. Utility values were not available from the cRCT, hence we relied on utility values reported in the published literature which were used to calculate quality adjusted life years (QALYs), using the area under the curve method. A decision tree model was used to capture the decision problem, considering a societal perspective and a 14-day time horizon. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses assessed robustness and uncertainty of results, respectively. Results Patients (n = 894) were recruited from 30 pharmacies and 82% (n = 732) responded to follow-up. On average, MAS was more costly but also more effective (in terms of symptom resolution and QALY gains) compared to UC. MAS patients (n = 524) gained an additional 0.003 QALYs at an incremental cost of $7.14 (Australian dollars), compared to UC (n = 370) which resulted in an ICER of $2277 (95% CI $681.49–3811.22) per QALY. Conclusion Economic findings suggest that implementation of MAS within the Australian context is cost effective. Trial registration Registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) and allocated the ACTRN: ACTRN12618000286246. Registered on 23 February 2018.
Publication
Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation
Volume
18
Issue
1
Pages
24
Date
12/2020
Journal Abbr
Cost Eff Resour Alloc
Language
en
ISSN
1478-7547
Accessed
7/7/25, 12:59 AM
Library Catalog
DOI.org (Crossref)
Notes

Study topic
Economic evaluation of a pharmacist-led minor ailment service (MAS) compared with usual pharmacist care in Australian community pharmacies.

Study type
Cost utility analysis conducted alongside a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Key findings

  • MAS resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $2,277 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained, well below the Australian reference threshold of $28,033/QALY, indicating strong cost-effectiveness.
  • The pharmacist-led MAS used HealthPathways to guide assessment and management of minor ailments, integrating evidence-based protocols into community pharmacy practice.
  • Patients receiving MAS were more likely to receive appropriate care and adhere to referral advice, with pharmacists referring four times as many patients using HealthPathways compared to usual care.
  • The study supports HealthPathways as a valuable tool for structured, protocol-driven care in pharmacy settings, contributing to improved health outcomes and system efficiency.
  • Findings suggest that national implementation of MAS supported by HealthPathways could reduce unnecessary GP and ED visits and enhance responsible self-care.
Citation
Dineen-Griffin, S., Vargas, C., Williams, K. A., Benrimoj, S. I., & Garcia-Cardenas, V. (2020). Cost utility of a pharmacist-led minor ailment service compared with usual pharmacist care. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation, 18(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12962-020-00220-0