Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations In Multidisciplinary Pain Management Services for Managing People With Fibromyalgia or Chronic Widespread Pain

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this literature review was to explore the existing evidences regarding the economic evaluation of multidisciplinary pain management services in managing people with fibromyalgia or chronic widespread pain Methods: Electronic search of Embase, MEDLINE, PsychoINFO, NHS EED, JBI, and Cochrane database was performed. Studies published from the time of the respective database inception to April 2015 were considered for inclusion in this review. The quality of studies was assessed using the Cochrane Back Review Group and the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS). Result(s): The literature review allowed retrieving 620 studies of which 6 fulfilled the eligibility criteria. All included studies were economic evaluations alongside randomized clinical trials published between 1996 and 2015. Two were from the UK, two from Spain, and two from the Netherland. Risk of bias was high in two studies. The intervention, comparators, disciplines involved, and number of sessions were well described in most of the studies. variation between the included studies were in type of interventions, length of administration, follow-up period, and outcome measured. None of the studies met all CHEERS quality criteria. In Five studies, multidisciplinary pain management services were cost-effective at short-term follow up; however, this was not always maintained in long term followup. Conclusion(s): Due to the high level of heterogeneity among selected studies, we were unable to make a definitive conclusion about the cost-effectiveness of pain management services in managing people with fibromyalgia or chronic widespread pain. Multidisciplinary pain management services trials must be based on high methodological and economic quality to determine the cost-effectiveness of multidisciplinary pain management services.