One-year outcomes and a cost-effectiveness analysis for smokers accessing group-based and pharmacy-led cessation services

Bauld, L., Boyd, K. A. , Briggs, A. H. , Chesterman, J., Ferguson, J., Judge, K. and Hiscock, R. (2011) One-year outcomes and a cost-effectiveness analysis for smokers accessing group-based and pharmacy-led cessation services. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 13(2), pp. 135-145. (doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntq222)

Abstract

Introduction: An observational study examining 1-year follow-up of clients of two National Health Service smoking cessation services in Glasgow was used to inform a cost-effectiveness analysis. One service involved 7 weeks of group-based support (n = 411) and the other consisted of up to 12 weeks of one-to-one counseling with pharmacists (n = 1,374). Pharmacological aids to quitting (e.g., nicotine replacement therapy) were available to all clients. Methods: Quit rates were calculated for each service at 52 weeks after the quit date, and these were used for an economic evaluation of both the annual and the lifetime cost-effectiveness of the pharmacy- and group-based interventions in comparison with a baseline “self-quit” scenario. The annual cost-effectiveness model established the incremental cost per 52-week quitter, while a Markov model was developed for the lifetime analysis to estimate the potential lifetime outcomes in terms of cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gained, to account for the benefits quitters will receive in terms of extended life years and improvements in quality of life from smoking cessation. Results: The proportion of carbon monoxide–validated quitters from both services combined fell from 22.5% at 4-week follow-up to 3.6% at 52 weeks. The group service achieved a higher quit rate (6.3%) than the pharmacy service (2.8%) but was more intensive and required greater overhead costs. The lifetime analysis resulted in an incremental cost per QALY of £4,800 for the group support and £2,600 for pharmacy one-to-one counseling. Conclusions: Despite disappointing 1-year quit rates, both services were considered to be highly cost-effective.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Briggs, Professor Andrew and Boyd, Professor Kathleen
• Authors: Bauld, L., Boyd, K. A., Briggs, A. H., Chesterman, J., Ferguson, J., Judge, K., and Hiscock, R.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Centre for Population and Health Sciences
• Journal Name: Nicotine and Tobacco Research
• ISSN: 1462-2203